St. John of Damascus, priest

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26

 O people of Zion,

Who dwell in Jeru­salem, you will weep no more. When you cry, he will listen; when he hears, he wil.0l answer.  When the  Lord  has  given  you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, he, your teacher will hide no longer. Your own eyes will see him, and your ear will listen to his words behind you: “This is the way, walk in it.”

 He will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pas­tures. Your beasts of burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel.

 For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill.

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when Yahweh binds up the wounds of his people and heals the bruises inflicted by his blows.

 

Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Matthew 9:35 – 10:1, 5a, 6-8

 Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and he cured every sickness and disease. When he saw the crowds he was moved with pity, for they were ha­rassed and helpless like sheep without a she­pherd.

 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the workers are only few. Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.” Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

 Jesus sent these twelve on mission with the instruction: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.

 Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. Freely have you received, freely give.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Face to face with the needs of the people, Jesus knows that by Himself, He can never do as much for the people. But limitations do not hinder Him. He acknowledges that the laborers are too few for the harvest at hand.

The same situation presents itself today for the Church. So what did Jesus do? He involves His disciples, empowering them to do mission. The Church today recognizes the great contribution of the laity in advancing the mission They are now active participants in the Church’s life and ministry.

The challenge in the time of Jesus and that of the resent is the same. But it should not deter the church in proclaiming the good news. The laity is Just waiting. The Chuerch can tap into an enormous pool of willing collaborators for God’s work here on earth .