11th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME

Gospel Bullet Points (Matthew 9:36-10:8)

• We are all called to a mission. Like the apostles in the Gospel, we are called to take the place of Jesus in our world and share the Good News. But usually, our initial response to this invitation is hesitancy. We feel hesitant because of our unworthiness. But it is God’s own initiative, no merit of our own. The qualification for the work does not come from us but from God.
• Jesus did not choose the original 12 apostles because they were perfect—Jesus was betrayed by a friend; He was denied three times; all the disciples deserted Him and ran away when he was arrested. But they remained, in His eyes, to be his disciples.  Like the first apostles, we are not and will not be perfect. We will make mistakes. Yet, He trusted the apostles and He, too, will continue to trust us if can just allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit.
• Our response to His invitation should be that of gratitude coupled with humility. We should be grateful that even in our unworthiness, as lay, religious, or clerics, He calls us to be His witnesses.
• Today, Jesus still needs messengers to proclaim the Good News. If you feel unworthy and incompetent, know that God can use even the most unworthy and insignificant. God can write straight with crooked lines. All that remains for us is to rely on God’s power and not on our own. Take the risk as we say with Isaiah: “Here I am Lord, send me.” Don’t worry about how we will accomplish this. It will be the power of the Spirit of God that will move through us.