DAILY GOSPEL COMMENTARY: “HIS HEART WAS MOVED WITH PITY”
(Mt 9:32-38).
Gospel of Tuesday, 14th week in Ordinary Time
Mt 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary to the Gospel of St. Matthew (with permission)
- The need for good shepherds
- 35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.
- The Second Vatican Council uses this passage when teaching about the message of Christian charity which the Church should always be spreading: “Christian charity is extended to all without distinction of race, social condition or religion, and seeks neither gain nor gratitude. Just as God loves us with a gratuitous love, so too the faithful, in their charity, should be concerned for mankind, loving it with that same love with which God sought man. As Christ went about all the towns and villages healing every sickness and infirmity, as a sign that the Kingdom of God had come, so the Church, through its children, joins itself with men of every condition, but especially with the poor and afflicted, and willingly spends herself for them (Ad gentes, 12).
- 36 “He had compassion for them”:
- the Greek verb is very expressive; it means “he was deeply moved”.
- Jesus was moved when he saw the people, because their pastors, instead of guiding them and tending them, led them astray, behaving more like wolves than genuine shepherds of their flock. Jesus sees the prophecy of Ezek 34 as now being fulfilled; in that passage God, through the prophet, upbraids the false shepherds of Israel and promises to send them the Messiah to be their new leader.
- “If we were consistent with our faith when we looked around us and contemplated the world and its history, we would be unable to avoid feeling in our own hearts the same sentiments that filled the heart of our Lord” (St. Josemaria, Christ is passing by, 133).
- Reflexion on the spiritual needs of the world should lead us to be tirelessly apostolic.
- 37-38 “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
- After contemplating the crowds neglected by their shepherds, Jesus uses the image of the harvest to show us that that same crowd is ready to receive the effects of Redemption: “I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see now the fields are already white for harvest” (Jn 4:35).
- The field of the Jewish people cultivated by the prophets – most recently by John the Baptist – is full of ripe wheat. In farmwork, the harvest is lost if the farmer does not reap at the right time; down the centuries the Church feels a similar need to be out harvesting because there is a big harvest ready to be won.
- However, as in the time of Jesus, there is a shortage of labourers.
- Our Lord tells us how to deal with this: we should pray God, the Lord of the harvest, to send the necessary labourers.
- If a Christian prays hard, it is difficult to imagine his not feeling urged to play his part in this apostolate. In obeying this commandment to pray for labourers, we should pray especially for there to be no lack of good shepherds, who will be able to equip others with the necessary means of sanctification needed to back up the apostolate.
- In this connexion St. Pope Paul VI reminds us: “the responsibility for spreading the Gospel that saves belongs to everyone — to all those who have received it! The missionary duty concerns the whole body of the Church; in different ways and to different degrees, it is true, but we must all, all, be united in carrying out this duty. Now let the conscience of every believer ask himself: Have I carried out my missionary duty? Prayer for the Missions is the first way of fulfilling this duty” (Angelus Address, 23 October 1977).
- After contemplating the crowds neglected by their shepherds, Jesus uses the image of the harvest to show us that that same crowd is ready to receive the effects of Redemption: “I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see now the fields are already white for harvest” (Jn 4:35).
VIDEO COMMENTARY ON TODAY’S GOSPEL
TOPIC: WHY DOES GOD ALLOW “UNWORTHY” INDIVIDUALS TO LEAD HIS CHURCH?
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus was moved with pity for the crowd that was constantly following Him for they needed guidance and healing just like sheep that need a shepherd. He tells His disciples, ““The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
In our reflection today, we ask ourselves several questions. First, why did Jesus talk about the harvest immediately and not about planting the seeds of faith? Second, why does He allow us to have leaders who are not spiritually “mature?”
TOPIC: What should be your perspective when you are not appreciated?
Many of us work hard for our family, our parish, our community, our country. And many of us feel unappreciated for the work we do.
Jesus went all out to preach, to heal, to cast out demons, to bring people to life literally, and give life to those mired in sinfulness. Instead of receiving gratitude, He was bashed, criticized, charged with blasphemy and eventually, crucified. He did not mind the non-recognition. His purpose was to please His father.
When we do good, we do not need to be appreciated or recognized. When we help, He knows. When we show kindness, He knows. When we serve quietly while others receive the credit, He knows. When we show love and still be crucified by people, He knows.
Let us rest on that thought that God knows. What is important is His appreciation. It may come sooner or later.
Here is a classic case of one who was humongously bashed on social media for one mistake. She may have hurt for a while. But she was not daunted. She continued to do good and show kindness to people around her. She used her mistake as motivation to help others and thereby gaining points from the One who matters – our Lord.
[VIDEO – Kim Chiu VIRAL video GINAWANG DANCE CHALLENGE sa TIKTOK – by Celebrity Manila]
[VIDEO – Bawal Lumabas Journey – by Kim Chiu PH]
Credit: Bong Arjonillo, CFC International Chairman
Wednesday, 14th week in Ordinary Time Gospel commentary (Mt 10:1-7) in the link below:
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Thanks and God bless you and your loved ones! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo.