December 4, 2004
Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Father John Doyle, LC

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 the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summonded his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and evey illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instucting 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.

Introductory Prayer:Lord Jesus, just as you sent out your first apostles to preach your Kingdom and do good to all, please fill me with your grace to fulfill my mission of being an authentic witness to you before others. Holy Mary, accompany me in this mediation.

Petition:Holy Spirit unite me to Jesus, the vine, so that I will bear much fruit.

1. The Heart of Christ. “His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus is our creator and our redeemer. He knows even our innermost desires. He knows that what we seek is his friendship whether we realize it or not. We seek his healing and love. He looks upon me with great love because he wants me to be holy and truly happy. He wants to cure me of my diseases and illnesses, especially those of the spirit: pride, vanity and selfishness.

2. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest. “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” There are so many souls in need of healing and so few to help Our Lord with this great mission of building his Kingdom and saving souls. “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to the harvest.” Christ is calling me to help him in this mission. I cannot be indifferent to the cries of my brothers and sisters who do not know the truth and who have not experienced God’s awesome love. I must be convinced that Jesus is the only answer for their yearnings. Do I pray often to the Lord of the harvest? Do I realize that I am also called to be a laborer in the Lord’s harvest?

3. Go to the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. Jesus sends me out and I feel weak and helpless. Can I “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and drive out demons?” Isn’t there someone else, Lord? No. Christ calls you for the same reason he called the first apostles, namely because he chooses the weak to show that he is in charge. “Apart from the vine you can do nothing.” But united to him, you will bear much fruit. Trust in him especially when you feel your own weakness and incapability. For, as the apostle St Paul, reminds us, “There is nothing I cannot do in him who strengthens me,” and “It is when I am weak that I am strong.”

Dialogue with Christ: Oh Lord Jesus, I do not feel worthy or up to the task of being your apostle. Please help me to unite myself to you, the true vine, each time I receive you in the Eucharist, so that united to you, I will be faithful to my mission of building your Kingdom.

Resolution: I will go before the Blessed Sacrament today, intensifying my union and friendship with my Risen Lord, and ask him to send more holy priestly vocations for his Church.

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