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Do you ever wonder how we
must appear to the Lord Jesus? Matthew gives us a good idea in
today’s gospel passage: “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was
moved to pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like
sheep without a shepherd.” How do sheep without a shepherd look you
might ask? Not very good! Tired, hungry, thirsty, decimated by the wolf
and the lion, and perhaps wounded from their aimless wandering. Do
you think we ever look like that to Jesus? What about people in other
places in the world, Afghanistan, Iraq, India, maybe some in our own
nation?
There is a harvest to be brought in, Jesus tells the disciples, “ask the
master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” The
laborers did not plant the harvest they are only sent to reap the
harvest for the harvest master. There is only a limited time for harvest
after which it is too late. Whatever has not been harvested in time will
be lost; it will rot in the fields. If we are the fruit of the harvest,
and we are not gathered in time, we will be lost. Do you feel like part
of the harvest? What does that mean for you?
Jesus summoned the twelve and gave them his own authority to drive out
unclean spirits and heal the sick. They were to do these things in his
name! They were to proclaim the same message that Jesus had taught, “The
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” You have received without cost, Jesus
told them, you should give in the same way. Have you ever thought of
what your faith cost you? Did you receive it as a gift? From whom? With
whom have you shared the faith? St. Francis of Assisi put it this way,
“Preach the Gospel always. If necessary use words.”
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