Gospel (Mt 9:32-38)
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Commentary
Today’s Gospel passage tells us that “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.”
Jesus wants to do good to everyone without distinction. Our Lord doesn’t care that some oppose and criticize his efforts. Nor can blasphemers dampen his zeal for souls, when they accuse him of receiving the power to work miracles and exorcisms from the devil.
Our Lord always shows infinite hope in people and in the effectiveness of the action of his words and grace. Hence he was eager to heal all the diseases and illnesses he encountered, and not just some.
Given the current panorama that we face in the world and that we have to bring to God, we can be tempted to become discouraged. But we can ask Jesus to enkindle our heart with the hope-filled evangelizing zeal that we always see in him.
For when Jesus looks at the world, he doesn’t see a wasteland or desert without hope. On the contrary, he sees the world as a ripe field ready for the harvest.
The only thing needed is that more people truly decide to work for Christ with the same hope and diligence. And we can obtain this by asking Him, the owner of the harvest, of souls, to send more workers into his fields.