Homily for 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A (The New Field Hospital)

COMMENTARIES FROM THE HEART (By Fr. Anthony Agnes)

11^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A (18.06.2023)

First Reading: Exodus 19:2-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 99(100):2-3,5

Second Reading: Romans 5:6-11

Gospel: Matthew 9:36-10:8

Theme: “The New Field Hospital”

Our first reading opens with the people of Israel entering the desert of Sinai. The desert is a lonely place with a difficult life because there is no comfort, no water, no food, no other people around them. However, the Lord had a plan for them. He invited them to settle at the foot of the mountain so that they could be closer to Him; a sign that they have no other person but God.

We also enter our little deserts every day; we have our daily challenges which sometimes make us feel lonely and alone. Today, God reminds us that he has a plan for each of us. Whenever we enter into any difficult situation in life he will always remain by our side, like the unmovable mountain of Sinai in our first reading. All we need to do is to draw closer to him through prayer. At every Holy Mass, like the Israelites, we also pitch camp at the foot of the mountain which we call “the sanctuary”. We gather around the sanctuary of the Church to entrust ourselves to God, to gain his protection. When we enter into any desert experience of life (sickness, pain, loneliness, unemployment, relationship and marriage challenges, rejection, etc.), let us remember that God is closer to us than we are to ourselves. He will be with us and will provide for our needs.

In our Gospel reading Jesus went round the towns and villages meeting the crowds, preaching to them and then healing them of their diseases and sicknesses. Looking at their faces, seeing the pain and hurt in their eyes, he had compassion of them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. It is a beautiful thing for Jesus to have compassion on the crowd. It means our God has feelings, he cares about us and what happens to us. We are all found there in the crowd of Jesus. He sees the worries on our faces and knows the troubles, thoughts and questions in our hearts.

It is interesting that the reading does not stop at the feelings of Jesus. It tells us that He Himself then provides the answer, the solution: “So ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest”. What an assurance! God does not only see our problems, God does not only know the difficult questions in our life, but he also provides the answers. He steps in when we face a problem and remains with us till we find the solution; He is there from the beginning to the end. Our part is to ask, to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. It is His part to send the labourers. How, when, or where? That is the Master’s worry, not ours. When we face a challenge ours it to pray and keep praying about it and leave it to God to provide the solution at his own time.

The twelve disciples that Jesus called represent the Church and that is every one of us; that is why they have different names and backgrounds. Again, we are all in that list of the twelve disciples. God is calling each of us (whatever your name is) to go into the harvest, to go into the world and offer your little help. God wants us to cooperate with him in bringing his love to all. At the end of every Mass we hear again and again “Go, the Mass is ended”, that is, go into the harvest and contribute your part. Like a field hospital which is moved into the centre of action during a war, to the places where most needed by the wounded soldiers, so are we also sent into the difficult situations that people live in, to our wounded brothers and sisters to bring them the relief and comfort of Christ. We are the new field hospitals of Jesus and His Church. May God grant us the strength and the grace we need.

Praise be Jesus Christ!

My Prayer: Lord, when I hear the words “Go, the Mass is ended”, may they ignite in me to desire to move out and put smiles on the faces of those I encounter. In your name I pray. Amen!

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