Word to the Wise
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - Tuesday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 and Matt 9:32-38]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. [Matt]
These words introduce a portion of the Gospel of Matthew known as the "mission discourse." which takes up Chapter 10. It's as if Jesus is giving marching orders to his disciples, but, of course, these "orders" are intended not just for the disciples at that time, but for future disciples from Matthew's community and for all of us who are baptized! Today's introduction gives us a motivation. One way to organize our thoughts is the well-known trio of "observe, judge, act!"
Jesus "observes" the people who are coming to him He "judges" the desperate need of hope and the potential for the Kingdom. He then "acts" by instructing his disciples and sending them out to preach the gospel. We can do the same by taking our baptismal commitment seriously, and then looking around us to see where our talents and abilities might be of use. If necessary we can look for opportunities for training that will maximize these talents. Many parishes and dioceses will offer "workshops" in various areas of need. In some areas, motivated persons have seen that uneducated yet talented rural persons could turn talents into making a living through cooperatives and the use of "micro-loans." Such enterprises as "Meals on Wheels" came about because someone was observant to a true need.
Christianity is not just a matter of church on Sunday. It is not just a matter of being kind and compassionate. It is a matter of spreading the kingdom through the use of our gifts and talents. The traditional methodology of "observe, judge, act" is only one very useful way to proceed. But, as the song says, "This could be the start of something new!" AMEN