Fresh Dew Media

 11^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE LABOURERS ARE FEW

(Matthew 9:36-10:8)

We are invited by Jesus today to see the world from the divine perspective, to visualise reality the way God views it, to feel what God feels about His creatures, especially the human person.

 

HOW GOD LOOKS AND WHAT HE SEES IN US

God looks at us with love. God looks at us with compassion. He feels what we are passing through at each point in time. He looks to see what He saw in the garden of Eden: "And it was very good." He wants to see a beautiful world, He wants to see a peaceful people, he wants to see a happy human family, he wants to see a well-ordered society, He wants to see an organised system of leadership, He wants to see politicians driven by love, poised to serve, passionate to make the society a better place in obedience to the divine law.

But unfortunately, he does not see what gives Him joy. He feels heartbroken. He sees man's inhumanity to man. He sees misappropriation of values. He sees humanity in their numbers harassed and helpless, scattered like sheep without a shepherd. He cannot do for us what we should do for ourselves.  He will not do for us what He has given us the power to do by ourselves. He doesn't want us to appear irresponsible in the things He has committed under our care as our responsibilities. So he invites us again and again.

 

BE THE LABOURER

In a world filled with a lot to do, Jesus saw just a few labourers. He saw a few politicians ready to stand on justice, truth, and equity. He saw a few honest leaders driven by the tears of the people, inspired by the desire to bring positive change into the world. He saw a few incorrupt leaders. He saw even that the good ones were not given the opportunity to labour for the good of the people.  He sees those who are there for selfish reasons and, ungodly, wicked ambitions.

He invites us to pray the Lord of the harvest to send more labourers into his harvest. Yes, they need to take their rightful place.  The God-ordained leaders should take up their roles. If not, our society will not be good. We shouldn't keep calm until this happens.  Let's get rid of the corruption that is almost succeeding in making evil a norm in our world today. The true labourers are men with moral probity. We need them not only in politics but also in our religious and cultural institutions, economics, medical, academic, and indeed all spheres of life.

Let the pastors of souls be real labourers in the vineyard of the Lord and not men who are compromiseable by money or other factors.  Let them be men who call a spade by its name. Let them be men who feel what the people are feeling. Let them be men and women ready to wipe away tears and not to cause them. Let us all be more compassionate like Christ to be able to see how harassed and helpless our people are, how they are harassed by poverty, ignorance, immorality, indiscipline, etc. Let us offer to them what God has deposited in our hands for their nourishment and not harass them all the more. We are all called for this.

 

HE CALLED HIS DISCIPLES

Jesus called from the ordinary people of the time those He used to change the world. They were only twelve in number. Their names were mentioned. Jesus calls you and I today in a very special way. We are the disciples of Jesus today. He calls us by name to bring about the desired change our world needs.

We are many in the world. But you have to start seeing yourself as that one special person the Lord can use to change society, starting from where you are. Are you a father? be the father working hard to give fatherhood its rightful image. Are you a mother? Be that mother that will give motherhood its true definition.  Be an epitome of what a mother should be.

Parents, parents’ figures, elders, influencers, social media content creators, please try to see the world the way God sees it. Help our world that is wandering helter-skelter like a sheep without a shepherd to get it right. Let us not be in the majority selling out evil packages of different sorts to trend and make money. Let us stop leading the world astray all the more. Let us stop corrupting innocent minds. Let us labour to build a decent world after the mind and plan of God.

In all we do, let us not forget about the kingdom we are called to be part of. As we labour to fashion this world after that ideal kingdom of justice, love, and peace. Let us look forward to being admitted into heaven when our work here is done. Let's stop lazing about. Let's all take up the mandate of Christ today to: heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse leppers, and cast out demons. Let's use all that the Lord has blessed us with to give our world our best and nothing but the best.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We affirm with You, Oh Lord, that there are few labourers. We pray for more. Make us good labourers in the world. Help us by Your grace to be compassionate, to heal the world of corruptions and cast away all forms of evil, especially those trying to destroy the family, religion, and politics.  Strengthen us as we work for the coming of Your kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you

(11th Sunday, Ordinary Time Yr. A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh