PRI Reflections on Scripture | Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent

Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel

Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

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."

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples

and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out

and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,

"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Cure the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Reflection

We've been focusing all week on the healing power of Jesus. Encountering someone who needs a gift from God. But we have to be careful, because the work of being a follower of Jesus is to create small kingdoms of individuals like minded, trusting in one of their believing in this power of the spirit within them to create a life giving environment.

The healing that God has promised to us enables community to thrive. Individuals to get past their own egos and to be caring most about those around them. It's a beautiful image of the Kingdom of God. That's what we're here for, and that's what's happening now.

Closing Prayer

Father, life can become a distraction or can become something that is a kind of workshop for everything that God is asking us to become. Help us to see it as a place where we can learn how to develop a community of life giving friends. That's the goal. That's the work. The Kingdom of God is near, it is at hand, it is already here. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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