'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 (Mt. 9:35-10:1)”’
This passage is a transition from the confession of Jesus as the Messiah by two blind men to the mission of the disciples. Jesus told the disciples that the crowd was in need of spiritual leadership. Pastoral work done the way God wants is difficult so there are not many true spiritual leaders. Christ told the disciples to pray to God in faith to increase the number of spiritual leaders. Those whom God does not send, “Will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them (2 Pt. 2:1).” Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God and now started to build the people of God, the Church. Twelve of the disciples were singled out, given the authority to heal and cast out evil spirits, and instructed. The number 12 corresponds to the 12 patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel and symbolizes the restoration of Israel. Jesus gave them a share in His divine power and they became the core of the Church.
Almighty God, we are all in need of pastoral guidance and we ask you to be moved with pity and send us spiritual leaders to teach us your divine truths. Help us to increase in love and understanding so we can come to the knowledge of the truth. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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