9 July, 2024 | Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

 

Hos 8:4-7, 11-13

Gospel Mt 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,

and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.

The crowds were amazed and said,

“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

But the Pharisees said,

“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

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.”

Reflections:

The Pharisees of Jesus’ time were supposed to be shepherds of the people. But were they? In Jesus’ own words they were hypocrites. They were not willing to accept Jesus as the Messiah but were belittling him who had worked several miracles giving clear proof of his divinity. And they would attribute his power to the power of the evil one, Beelzebul, the prince of devils. But the simple people were more than willing to accept their sins and Jesus as their saviour indeed is their true shepherd who came to lay down his life for them. Jesus, undeterred by all that his opponents said, but being concerned about the simple suffering people, went around teaching them and curing the sick and driving out demons and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. Are we willing to be like Jesus?

Activity: 

When you get an urge to judge another, stop, see how you would have behaved in the same situation, pray for the other person.