The Word in other words…….from Fr. Jerome

One of the things that I have realized in the Ordinary Season is that we are being asked and invited to focus our attention on Jesus. What is He doing? What are His feelings? What are His attitudes about people? And what are His aspirations for the people?

Jesus is true and faithful to the mission that the Father has given to Him. Prior to this pericope, Jesus, according to Matthew, toured around towns and villages; in other words, he was an itinerant preacher. He proclaimed the good news of God's reign - the conspicuous realty that the reign of God is amongst the people, He cured diseases and sickness and expelled demons.

Jesus was not a lone preacher or healer. As a human person, he accepted His limitations. He acknowledged that He needs partners and collaborators in the gigantic enterprise of preaching the Gospel. This is precisely the reason why he called the twelve disciples and shared with them his mission. He gave them authority or power to expel demons and to cure diseases. He admitted and said: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the Master of the harvest to send laborers for his harvest." (Mt 9:36)

He called the twelve disciples, meaning He is now forming a new people of God. Like the old people of God (Israel), their mission was to reveal Yahweh, the true God to their neighboring nations. The new people of God, as represented by the disciples, is called to preach the message of the Kingdom. Their calling is personal by the fact that their names were identified.

You would all agree with me that Jesus was a very sensitive, observant and empathetic person. Imagine at the sight of the crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them for they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd. Ironically, during the time of Jesus, there were more 2,000

priests who served at the Temple. Priests are not only called to preside at the liturgy, but they are also called to care for their sheep by offering the solace and comfort through the pastoral care they provide for them. A sheep without a shepherd is not good. As of the priests, we have to strike our breast and asked God for forgiveness if we have changed our priorities. Evangelization is not just preaching God's

message, but it is accompanied by healing, by driving out demons and providing people what they need so that they are freed from their misery. And since all of us share in the prophetic, priestly and kingly role of Christ, we Christians have this responsibility. This is our shared responsibility brought about by our Baptism and Confirmation. To be blind to the needs of our brothers and sisters is a sin of neglect and a form of selfishness and self-centeredness. We have to imitate the attitude of Christ by being sensitive and empathetic to the needs of the community by being proactive, and doing something alleviate their horrific situation.

Last Saturday, the Diocese of Phoenix was blessed to have four new priests ordained. Yet, the reality remains the Diocese needs more priests because we are the fastestgrowing Diocese in the whole country next to Los Angeles. Our role is to pray for more vocations. Pray for your priests every day that they may be true shepherds like Jesus.

At the end of the Gospel, Jesus sternly instructed the disciples not to go into pagan territory nor Samaritan towns, but to go and seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Why? Because Christ's priority during His ministry is to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The time for the pagans will come after His passion, death, resurrection and glorification, as commissioned by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Why is this so? Because God's salvation is for all and it is universal. Be a "Catholic" in your perspective and out-look in life.