Jesus, the Good Shepherd, seeks the good of the sheep. He is not like those who steal, slaughter and destroy as they seek their own good.
Jesus has compassion for the crowds, for they are troubled and abandoned like sheep that have no shepherd. A circumstance, then, triggers his compassion. That is to say, he does not seek to help humanity, abstract, far, universal, but concrete folks, near, particular
He focuses, yes, on the need before him. He also lets the tough situation of those in need move him. And as he reacts so, he gets to grasp that such need is just the tip of the iceberg. Also, zeal for the good of the sheep takes hold of him even more. Hence, he asks and seeks how he can help them.
He, then, admits that there is much work to do, but workers are few. He tells his disciple to ask the Employer to send workers. After all, it all depends most of all on the one who employs (SV.EN VII:305).
But Jesus seems to agree with the saying that God helps those who help themselves. For he summons his twelve disciples and gives them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and cure all diseases and illnesses. These disciples turn into apostles; the Teacher sends them out.
The twelve have names and stand for the hierarchy. But just as Israel’s twelve tribes stand for the holy and chosen nation of priests, so also the apostles stand for the new Israel. For God’s new people that, in concrete, is the Church. Hence, to go and proclaim the Good News of the kingdom belongs to the clergy and to the laity. So, to carry out such mission as Jesus means to work together. It means, besides, to fulfill it in every way, by words and by works, in a creative way (see SV.EN XII:77-78). Freely, in self-emptying way, without peddling the Good News.
Lord Jesus, feed your sheep, your people. Make us share your mission and be shepherds that make known your love and compassion, to the end, to giving up our bodies and shedding our blood.
18 June 2023
11th Sunday in O.T. (A)
Ex 19, 2-6a; Rom 5, 6-11; Mt 9, 36 – 10, 8
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