1st Reading: Ex 19:2-6a
2nd Reading: Rom 5:6-11
Gospel: Matt 9:36 - 10:8
Be compassionate…Do More, Speak
Less!
There once was a parent who cherished taking his little
child on walks. A visit to a botanical garden was once made by the father and
son. They were there, lying down on the grass, gazing up at the sky. The father
asked his son if he could hear any sounds after a brief period of silence. The
son answered that he could hear the sound of the chariot. Yes, my son, the
chariot is empty, the father confirmed. The father's response caught the son
off guard and piqued his curiosity. The son then asked, "How do you know
that it is an empty chariot if we haven't seen it yet?" After that, the
father answered, "It's an empty chariot because of the noise it's
making." As the chariot fills, it becomes noisier. In terms of
comprehension, the tiny toddler quickly developed into an adult. We know we are
in front of an empty chariot when we see someone talking too much and getting
nothing done, interrupting everyone and assuming he knows more than the rest.
When empty, the chariot or person creates more noise.
The second reading imparts to us,
as followers of Christ, a lesson of consolation, comfort, and encouragement in
the love of God (Rom 5:8). Because Christ showed his love for us in the past,
when our condition was unfriendly, how much more will Christ continue to show
us his love in the future, now that our relationship with God has been
repaired? This is what the apostle Paul, who had never been to Rome before
being arrested, encourages the Romans through his letter, as well as us
today. As a result, we are liberated to
celebrate the present and look forward to the future thanks to the certainty of
Christ's love.
Jesus prepared us to work and ask
for more collaborators so that we can look forward to this confident future. In
fact, the gospel of today presents a challenge for us to consider apostleship.
Jesus beheld the people with pity as he looked at them from the depths of his
compassionate love (Matthew 9:36). Jesus realized how much work needed to be
done. He realized the necessity for more helpers to carry out the merciful work
of the Reign of God as a result. We still have this need today, and I can
affirm from experience that it is not a lack of laborers for the master's crop;
rather, it is a lack of dedicated laborers, the faithful ones. Today, we must
venture outside of our comfort zone to meet God's people. Today, we must
realize that wherever there are people, and not because of a tarmac road, is
where the purpose is completed so far.
Jesus' followers as a whole are
on a mission. The free gift of faith has to be spread. Jesus advises praying
not to persuade God but rather to change people's minds from being
self-centered to being giving and willing to serve. We are God's devoted
people. We are called to holiness, which is a life filled with acts of kindness
and service to our brothers and sisters. Then, instead of being self-centered,
let's spread this holiness by doing more and speaking less!
0 comments:
Post a Comment