Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

(06/14/2026) Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:36, 10:1-8

 

“Jesus Gives His Disciples Authority to Heal and Set Free”

 

The kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent and believe in the Gospel. 

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo

     Jesus' father-like love for us is demonstrated in this weekend's gospel. He had pity for the crowds. The Greek word here for “pity” is a mouthful. It's the word that gives us the English word: spleen. It means Jesus was emotionally moved in the depths of His being. The people had no leadership, they were suffering. They were like sheep without a shepherd. Here was the One who could give them direction and healing. But He needed help. Too many people were in need. So He chose twelve among His followers who would work closely with Him, bringing encouragement to the hopeless, freedom to those whose lives were controlled by evil, healing to those broken down by disease. All they needed was to open their hearts and minds in faith to the messages of Jesus.

     Jesus is the real healer, the only savior, our source of hope and life and holiness. When the gospel tells us He gave authority to the twelve, it was the authority to act in His name and by His power. Whenever one who has been delegated is acting in His name, it is really Jesus who is present and is at work. When a priest baptizes, he doesn't have power personally to give divine life to an infant. He has the authority to do so because it was given to him, but it is Christ in whose name he serves. It is Christ who is really doing it. This is illustrated with the gospel of Jesus healing a blind man by putting mud on the man's eyes. The mud brought healing because of the action of Jesus and the faith of the man who was blind. When a priest baptizes, he is kind of like the mud. Jesus is just using him to do what he wants him to do: bring light and life to the one being baptized. St. Augustine illustrated this idea in a dramatic way by saying, it wouldn't matter if St. Peter were doing the baptism, or St. Paul or Judas; it is Christ who is baptizing.

     This principal that the sacraments are the actions of Christ carries through all the sacraments. It is Christ who forgives sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation speaking through the words of the priest; it is Christ who is the great High Priest offering acceptable sacrifice to the Father at Mass. It is Christ who gives the Spirit in Confirmation, Christ who unites a man and a woman in marriage to grow in love and to share in the work of creation by bringing new life into the world. It is Christ who ordains deacons, priests and bishops to serve God's people in His name. It is Christ who touches us with His healing love in the Sacrament of the Sick.

     This weekend, we hear Jesus' pity. He had deep feelings for those who suffer and that's why He gave us the Sacrament of the Sick. St. Mark tells us specifically, and St. James too, that oil is to be used in this healing. Of course, God expects us to use whatever gifts He has given us to find healing: a healthy diet, exercise, a good doctor, etc. Prayer is one of those gifts and should be used in combination with whatever resources we have and should not just be a last resort. “I guess all we can do is pray.” It may be a last resort, but it should be a first resort too. 

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Meditation: Do you believe in the life-changing power of the Gospel and experience its transforming effect in your life? The core of the Gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is very near! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who know God's love and mercy, and who willingly obey and honor God as their Lord and King. In the prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples (the Lord's Prayer or Our Father), he taught them to pray for God to reign in their daily lives and in the world around them: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The power of the Gospel to heal and set free

When Jesus proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom he also demonstrated the power of the Gospel with supernatural signs and wonders. Jesus healed people who suffered physical, emotional, and mental illnesses. He freed people from spiritual bondage to sin and demonic powers. Jesus gave his disciples the same authority he had to heal and set people free from spiritual bondage.

The Gospel (which literally means "good news") which Jesus proclaimed is just as relevant and real today, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. If we believe in the Lord Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, and in the power of the Gospel, we will know and experience the freedom, joy, and power he gives us that enables us to live and witness as his disciples. No one can buy heaven; but if we know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, then we already possess heaven in our hearts! Do you believe that Jesus can change and transform your life and share with you the power and authority of God's kingdom?

Jesus chose ordinary people to do extraordinary work

Jesus commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did - to speak God's word and to bring his healing power to the weary and oppressed. In the choice of the twelve apostles we see a characteristic feature of God's work - Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals, had no wealth or privileged position. They were chosen from the common people who did ordinary things, had no special education, and no social advantages.

Jesus wanted ordinary people who could take an assignment and do it extraordinarily well. He chose these men, not for what they were, but for what they would be capable of becoming under his direction and power. When the Lord calls us to serve, we must not think we have nothing or very little to offer. The Lord takes what ordinary people, like us, can offer and uses it for greatness in his kingdom. Do you believe that God wants to work in and through you for his glory?

Lord Jesus, you have chosen me to be your disciple. Take and use what I can offer, however meager it may seem, for the greater glory of your name.

read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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