11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR – A
11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR – A
“Called to compassion and Mission”
Ex 19:2 – 6 Rom 5:6 – 11 Matt 9:36 - 10:8
Dear brothers and sisters,
Every day, God calls us by name. He calls us to belong to Him, to walk with Him, and to serve Him. Yet in the noise and busyness of life, we often fail to hear His voice.
Today’s liturgy invites us to listen once again to that loving call. The God who chose Israel as His own people, the God who sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners, is the same God who calls each of us today.
In the Gospel, Jesus sees the crowds and His heart is filled with compassion. He sees their wounds, their confusion, and their longing for hope. Then He turns to His disciples and entrusts them with His mission.
As we gather around the altar of the Lord, Jesus also looks upon us with love. He invites us to receive His grace and to become messengers of His mercy in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
May this
Eucharist renew our commitment to follow Christ and to share His love with all
whom we meet.
Chosen for a Mission: Exodus 19:2 - 6
In the first reading, God speaks to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
He reminds them how He rescued them from slavery and cared for them throughout their journey.
Then He says: “You shall be my special possession among all peoples.”
God chooses Israel not because they are powerful but because He loves them.
However, being chosen is not merely a privilege; it is a responsibility.
God calls them to become a holy nation and a kingdom of priests - a people who will reveal God's presence to the world.
The same is true for us.
Through Baptism, God has chosen each of us. We belong to
Him. We are called to reflect His love and goodness wherever we are. Every
Christian has a mission.
Compassion Revealed on the Cross: Romans 5:6 – 11
In the second reading, St. Paul speaks about the greatest act of compassion in history.
He says: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus did not wait until we became holy or perfect.
He loved us in our weakness.
He loved us in our failures.
He loved us when we needed Him most.
The Cross is the ultimate expression of God's compassionate love.
Every time we look at the crucifix, we are reminded that God never abandons His people.
Before we can become missionaries, we must first experience this love ourselves.
Only hearts touched by God’s mercy can become instruments
of mercy.
The Compassion of Jesus Leads to Mission: Matthew 9:36 - 10:8
The Gospel begins with a beautiful image:
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Jesus sees beyond appearances.
He sees broken hearts.
He sees loneliness.
He sees fear and suffering.
The compassion of Jesus is not passive.
He does not simply feel sorry for people.
He acts.
He tells His disciples: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”
Then He calls the Twelve Apostles and sends them out.
Notice the pattern:
Jesus sees.
Jesus feels compassion.
Jesus sends.
Compassion leads to mission.
The same pattern must be present in our lives.
When we truly see the needs of others, we cannot remain
indifferent.
Let me share a Short Story
A little girl was walking along the seashore after a storm. Thousands of starfish had been washed onto the beach.
One by one she picked them up and threw them back into the ocean.
A man watching her said,
“Why are you doing that? There are thousands of starfish. You cannot save them all. What difference does it make?”
The girl picked up another starfish, gently tossed it into the sea, and replied,
“It made a difference to that one.”
What does this Story mean for us
Sometimes the problems around us seem great.
There are so many people who are suffering.
So many families facing difficulties.
So many people searching for hope and meaning.
We may think, “What can I do? I am only one person.”
But Jesus does not ask us to solve every problem.
But He asks us to make a difference where we can.
A kind word.
A helping hand.
A visit to a sick person.
A prayer for someone in need.
An act of forgiveness.
These simple acts become powerful signs of God’s compassion.
Like the little girl, we may not help everyone, but we
can help the person God places before us today.
Compassion must become Mission
One danger for Christians is to admire Jesus without imitating Him. We love hearing about His compassion. But Jesus wants us to practice compassion.
The Gospel does not say: “Feel sorry for the crowds.”
It says: “Go to them.”
Mission begins when compassion moves our feet.
When we feed the hungry.
When we visit the sick.
When we comfort the grieving.
When we teach the faith.
When we forgive those who hurt us.
Every act of love becomes a proclamation of the Gospel.
Mission begins where we are.
We do not need to travel far away to proclaim the Gospel. We proclaim it by the way we live, love, forgive, and serve.
As St. Francis of Assisi said: “Preach the Gospel at all
times; when necessary, use words.”
Today's readings remind us that Jesus looks upon us and our world with a heart full of compassion. He not only calls us to experience His love but also sends us to share that love with others.
As we leave this Eucharistic celebration, may we
carry the compassionate heart of Christ into our homes, workplaces, and
communities. Let us be attentive to those in need and respond generously to
God's call.
St. Francis De Sales says beautifully,
“Be who you are and be that well, so that you may
bring honour to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are.”
LIVE JESUS!
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