July 6, 2010
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
By Beth DeCristofaro
With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. (Hosea 8:4)
At the sight of the crowds, (Jesus’) 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." (Matthew 9:36-38)
Piety
Not the intellect, but God; not the will, but God; not the soul, but God; not taste, but God; not touch, but God; not the heart, but God; not food and drink, but God; not clothing, but God, not rest in bed, but God; not wealth, but God; not honor, but God – God in all and always. (St. Vincent Palloti)
Study
In ancient Israel, Hosea announced God’s displeasure with the People who, taking over sites which had been used by pagans for worship, built their own altars. However, they then fell into the worship of idols rather than staying true to God. In Matthew, Jesus looks around and sees the plight of the People looking for God and his heart is moved with compassion.
During the last week in the liturgical readings we have seen Jesus calling his friends, often from the bottom of society. We have seen Jesus performing miracles of healing and forgiveness. We have seen Jesus set strict boundaries on those who would follow him: “Let the dead bury their dead”. We have witnessed Jesus living out the love of God among men and women. Using imagery from the Old Testament, where Moses asks God to set out a leader because the Israelites were like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus is establishing himself not only as shepherd but aligning himself with the fruits of the harvest. And the work of the laborers is love, compassion, and speaking the Word of His life to all especially the poor and downtrodden that follow Jesus to find life.
Action
“Speaking of Faith” on NPR featured an interview with Shane Claiborne Sunday. Shane is one of the founders of a movement known as the “new monastics” striving to live a Gospel life in response to the needs of the poor. Take a few minutes and listen to this inspiring story of an Evangelical Christian who takes Jesus words seriously: his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Who in your neighborhood, parish or family is troubled and abandoned? What can you do to be a laborer for God’s harvest?
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2010/monastic-revolution/
