The readings for Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time may be found at:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061823.cfm
In today’s awesome gospel, we see Jesus moved with pity for the crowds because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus then calls his disciples and sends them out to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God
and to call all of us to serve and care for one another.
Now, I’m not sure how many of us listen to Christian music as we go about our week,
driving around or at work
or puttering around the house.
But if you have the chance,
I highly recommend listening to good Christian music, even if you only have it on in the background.
In the end, Christian music is a love song about God.
As I reflected on this week’s gospel from St. Matthew,
I kept thinking about a song called “Do Something” by the Christian artist Matthew West.
Mr. West’s first name being the same as our gospel writer today.
I don’t do this very often, but I would like to read some of those lyrics to you.
And showing the Holy Spirit is making this your lucky day -
I will read the lyrics and not attempt to sing them.
It goes like this.
“I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How'd we ever get so far down, and
How's it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, "God, why don't You do something?"
“Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, "God, why don't You do something?"
And God said,
"I did - I created you."
Those words hit me hard this week,
Just as in the time of Jesus, there is a shortage of laborers for the harvest.
And the needs of God's people are as great today as they were in Jesus' time.
In a world filled with addiction, suicide, confusion, poverty, injustice, and many other big needs,
Jesus still calls us to serve and care for one another.
So what do we do about it?
As usual, our Lord has given us the answers to the test.
Our Lord tells us to “do something”.
Jesus tells us that we should pray to God,
the Lord of the harvest, to send the necessary laborers.
That may not sound like doing much to you,
But if a Catholic prays consistently, thoughtfully, unselfishly and goes at it hard,
it brings results,
even if that prayer,
that investment of time only moves us,
to do something ourselves,
beyond prayer.
To be an active laborer of the harvest.
Laboring for God is not just a human thing - helping, giving, evangelizing,
but it is also a divine one - where prayer is necessary - constant prayer.
To ask our Lord to send more laborers.
To ask us to be reminded that we have received without pay
To ask to give us the strength to now give without pay.
To ask to give us the will to give selflessly.
To ask for compassion so that we can see with the eyes of Jesus,
to see others the way Jesus sees them.
Jesus calls each of us, young and old, into his service.
To bring healing and hope to those who are hurting.
To be a light in the darkness
To bring the love of Christ to those who are lost.
To be in communion with one another.
To care for one another.
To bear one another's burdens.
To rejoice with one another.
When we come together,
We are strengthened and empowered to do the work that God has called us to do.
And it all starts with prayer.
So, I invite you to do something.
And I ask you to pray about it.
Join us on Wednesday night at 6pm here in this church.
Each week at that time, we have Evening Prayer, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament - The Most Holy Eucharist.
Spend an hour with Jesus, outside of Mass.
Leave the world behind for one hour.
Pray for the strength to do something.
To be empowered to do the work that God has called us to do,
Great miracles are borne of communal prayer before out Lord.
And we need them now more than ever, because
The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.
