SATURDAY HOMILY, 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT – YEAR B
THEME: THE COMPASSION OF A LABOURER.
BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL
‘When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.’
We render assistance to people for different reasons. We equally ignore them for different reasons. More often, we firstly contemplate the gains of an intended act of charity before we embark on it. But Jesus remains a perfect example of a man whose all actions are motivated by pure love. In the Gospel of today (Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8), seeing the crowds, Jesus had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a Shepherd.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: Homily for Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent
We need to ask God to give us the heart that Jesus had for lost people. Evidently, the disciples saw the crowds Jesus saw but differently. We need to see as Jesus saw and feel as Jesus felt so that we will do as Jesus did. No wonder, the expression of how Jesus felt about the people is presented before He commissioned them to go to the lost sheep of Israel. They were to be bearers of a compassionate heart.
That the labourers are few amid billions of people in world is an attestation that only few are committed to the needs of the troubled humanity. Only a few would perceive what Jesus saw in lost people. It is increasingly becoming harder to see harassed and helpless individuals in our families, places of work, church and society. Our generation continues to birth more heartless and indifferent people who stand to take snapshots of accident victims but never to assist them to the hospital. Our society continues to breed oppressive hearts who place more burden on widows and orphans. More than ever before, this generation lacks compassion. And without compassion, life has no value since it would be reduced to survival of the fittest.
The sheep and the shepherd show man’s need met by God. The good shepherd seeks out lost sheep and ministers to them. The harvest and the workers show God’s “need” met by man: God uses saved people to save other people. Jesus didn’t angrily blame them for the mess that they were in, although He could have done so. Rather, He felt compassion for them.
Jesus commanded the disciples to pray for workers. True! But Jesus didn’t command the disciples to do something which He Himself had not done. Before sending them out He demonstrated a practical model for the mission; compassion. We must not lose our compassionate edge. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world and land, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
FOR SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>