I’d like to invite you to close your eyes, if you feel comfortable, and imagine this scene: a beautiful summer day, like it is at this time of the year here in Massachusetts. You are in a beautiful countryside, as is Galilee, with other disciples. Jesus is teaching and leading you all in prayer. Then He chooses the 12 apostles … Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip …. You know something important is going on and you have a sense that nothing will ever be the same. Sending the 12 is just the beginning. Eagerly you wait your turn soon.
That time is NOW! In your heart, hear Him calling your name NOW!
This part of Saint Matthew’s Gospel from which we hear, after Jesus teaches the Sermon on the Mount, is filled with such dynamism. The Lord is full of healing power and even the forces of nature obey Him, as the Messiah is launching His mission and the sends the first disciples! “The Harvest is plentiful …. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers,” He says. “He had compassion on the crowd, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” If there were ever a time to repeat these words, it is NOW!
Lord, send laborers. Send US.
Note that on this first sending of the apostles, He sends them to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. Let us pray the He send us now to the lost sheep near and around us. Lord, fill us with Your power to touch our families and those around us who have fallen asleep in faith! Grant us the wisdom to know how!
Many look with great concern to see people who are near to us who are asleep in faith, lost sheep, some having even denied their faith. We need to be careful of judgmental criticism of them. Instead, let us pray to the Holy Spirit, so that, like Our Lady and with her, we carry Christ within us!
Lord, may we make You present by our actions, by our love, by our compassionate works spoken at the right time to open eyes and hearts to see You.
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