11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus looks at the crowds and is moved with deep compassion because they are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
He turns to His disciples with a timeless reminder: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”
Christ doesn’t leave the world unattended. He calls His Apostles, invests them with His own authority, and sends them out to heal, teach, and reconcile. This mission remains vital for us today, offering three key lessons:
1. It Begins with Prayer: Before any action, we are commanded to pray for vocations and for those serving the Church.
2 .The Apostolic Church: Christ establishes a visible, ordered ministry to ensure His grace and truth are handed down through the centuries.
3. Radical Generosity: The Apostles are told, “You received without paying; give without pay.” God’s grace is a free gift meant to be shared selflessly.
By virtue of our Baptism, every one of us is called to be a labourer in the field. We encounter weary souls every day who are searching for hope. Let us pray for the courage to bring the light of Christ into our daily lives, remembering that we have received abundantly so that we may give generously.
