Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest, 3 December, 2022

 Gospel : Mt 9:35 -- 10:5a, 6-8

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.” 

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples

and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out

and to cure every disease and every illness. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,

“Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 

Cure the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Reflections: 

Jesus understood that the needs and demands were tremendous. That is why, he said, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” But the difference in Jesus’ attitude was that he did not stop responding in action. He acted and continues to act. He served to the very end, to the point of giving his entire life for the redemption of the world. Why? Because Jesus understood the need, and loved the world so much that doing nothing was not an option.

Activity

What are you doing for the spread of the Gospel? Can you make available some good moral stories too some children who cannot afford them?