HOMILY OF 11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (14TH JUNE 2026) — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: WORK TOGETHER AND BE GENEROUS
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
Ex 19: 2 – 6, Rom 5: 6 – 11, Matt 9: 36 – 10: 8.
“You received without pay, give without pay.” (Matthew 10:8)
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:36–10:8), Jesus looks upon the crowds and is moved with compassion because they are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” His response is not condemnation but mercy. He summons the Twelve, gives them authority over unclean spirits, and sends them out to continue His mission of healing, liberation, and love.
A remarkable aspect of this calling is the diversity of the apostles. Jesus did not choose people who were naturally identical or who shared the same opinions and backgrounds. Among them were a tax collector, Matthew, and a zealot. These two represented groups that were almost completely opposed to one another. Tax collectors were viewed by many Jews as collaborators with the Roman authorities because they collected taxes for an occupying power and were often associated with exploitation and injustice. The Zealots, on the other hand, were a radical movement that sought to overthrow Roman rule, even through violent resistance. A zealot could have considered a tax collector a traitor deserving hatred. Yet Jesus brought them together and made them brothers in the mission of the Kingdom of God.
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This teaches us a profound lesson: God’s work is always bigger than our differences. The Church is not built on uniformity but on unity. Jesus does not remove every difference among His followers; rather, He transforms those differences into instruments of grace. We are called to work with people whose personalities, experiences, ideas, and gifts may be different from ours. The challenge is not to make everyone become like us, but to discover how God can use each person for His purpose.
Saint Paul reminds us: “The body is not made up of one part but of many… Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:14, 27). Every person has a unique role in God’s plan. Some are gifted in teaching, others in administration; some encourage, others serve quietly behind the scenes; some lead publicly, while others bring strength through prayer and compassion. No gift is insignificant, and no person is useless in the eyes of God. The Kingdom grows when we stop competing with one another and begin cooperating with one another.
Jesus sent the Twelve as healers. They were not sent to increase the wounds of the world but to bind them. Humanity is already burdened by suffering, fear, injustice, loneliness, and brokenness. Many people carry hidden wounds that we may never see. The question we must ask ourselves is: Do our words and actions bring healing, or do they add to the pain of others?
Sadly, sometimes those who are called to represent Christ act in ways that make people afraid rather than loved. We are sent as lambs among wolves, yet sometimes we behave like wolves among lambs. Christ never entrusted His mission to those who would destroy, but to those who would serve. The Gospel cannot flourish through pride, hostility, and selfishness; it must be planted by humble servants who reveal the gentle heart of God.
The mission of the Twelve was also a mission of generosity. Jesus gave them a powerful instruction: “You received without pay, give without pay.” Everything we have is ultimately a gift from God. We have received forgiveness, mercy, salvation, healing, wisdom, opportunities, and countless blessings that we did not earn. Therefore, the Christian life cannot be reduced to receiving God’s gifts while refusing to share them with others.
A heart that truly understands grace becomes a generous heart. A person who knows they have been rescued cannot become a source of bondage for others. Yet many times, instead of using God’s blessings to heal and uplift, we use them to control, oppress, and create barriers. Like the Dead Sea, which receives water but gives none away, a soul that only receives without giving eventually becomes spiritually lifeless. Grace is meant to flow through us to others.
The First Reading (Exodus 19:2–6a) reminds Israel of God’s saving action: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” God’s people are defined by gratitude. They were once slaves, but God liberated them. Their freedom was not for selfishness but for a life of covenant, obedience, and love. In the same way, those who have experienced God’s mercy are called to become instruments of mercy for others.
A grateful heart does not create prisons because it remembers being freed. A person who knows the value of grace does not withhold grace from others. The greatest testimony of our faith is not merely what we receive from God, but what we are willing to give because of Him.
Today, let us ask ourselves: Do we build bridges or walls? Do we bring healing or deeper wounds? Do we work together despite our differences, or do we allow division to weaken the mission God has entrusted to us?
The world, our communities, and especially our beloved country Nigeria need Christians who will be generous bearers of God’s love—people who unite rather than divide, heal rather than harm, and serve rather than seek power. May we never forget that we have received freely from Christ, and therefore we must give freely to others. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE.
May God continue to heal our land, bless and protect Nigeria, and make us faithful instruments of His love and peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Good morning.
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