While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “”My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “”If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “”Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”” And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “”Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.
The Gospel of the Lord
***
***
Matthew describes two cases of healing: a twelve-year-old girl on the brink of death, and a woman who’s been hemorrhaging for the last twelve years.
Together, they represent all of humanity. The girl represents all children who suffer, along with the pain and helplessness of their parents. The older woman represents all who are aging, whose bodies have grown weak under the burden of years.
In each case, if the sick person is to be healed, then the Law must be broken.
***
According to Jewish Law, if a person touched a corpse – certainly that of a non-family member – then that person was rendered ritually impure, impeding their access to God. When Jesus touches the child’s hand, he becomes impure, but she is healed.
Similarly, the older woman was ritually impure because of her flow of blood. In touching Jesus, she renders him impure again, but she is also healed from her infirmity.
The irony is stunning.
In both cases, following the Law cements a person’s fate in death. But breaking it in faithleads to life.
***
What type of legalism might still exist in the Church today? Are there “laws” that prevent people from making contact with Christ in faith?
***
If we follow the example of today’s Gospel, then what matters most is not being “perfect,”but having faith in the Son of God, “who has loved us and given himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).
***
***
Image credits: (1) Deep Waters Tabernacle (2) Good News Unlimited (3) R & E Journaling, Amazon
At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.’ Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’ Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
A young girl was walking with her father along a beach the morning after a terrible storm blew through, leaving thousands of starfish strewn across the sand.
Suddenly, the girl let go of her father’s hand, walked to the water’s edge and began tossing the starfish back into the sea, one by one.
After several minutes, the father walked over to her and said, “Okay, sweetie, it’s time to go home.”
“But Dad,” she said, “all of these starfish will die if we leave them here in the sun!”
“You can’t save them all,” he said. “Saving a few more won’t make much of a difference.”
The girl, looking disheartened, stood still for a moment, staring down at the sand. Then she bent over, picked up one more starfish and tossed it back into the sea.
“Well, Dad,” she said, “for that one I just made ALL the difference!”
***
In today’s Gospel, the Lord sends out seventy-two of his disciples to preach, to heal, and to cast out demons. It’s a tall task, which the Lord seems to make even more challenging as he instructs them:
“Carry no money bag, no sack, and no sandals.”
One would think Jesus would be eager to set his disciples up for success. So, why would he send them out barefoot and penniless?
Jesus is building upon a Jewish tradition, which the disciples would’ve understood.
In ancient Israel, it was customary for a person to part with all of their possessions – everything from their money bag to their shoes – prior to entering the Temple to pray.
Physically and spiritually, pilgrims were compelled to leave their worldly possessions and concerns at the door before addressing God, who always comes first. After leaving the Temple, a person would reclaim their belongings, returning to the world.
***
By instructing his disciples to part with their money bag, sack, and sandals, Jesus is teaching his disciples to regard the entireworld as the Temple.
And so, the 72 are sent out on mission. Every soul they encounter is fertile ground, a potential dwelling place for God. While in ministry, they will experience firsthand the truth of Christ’s words: “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.”
This word, “harvest,” implies the crop is ready; it’s time to act. If the disciples wait until they feel ready, or until they have every question answered, then some of the crop – some souls – will be lost.
They must act now. They must do something. Anything. The harvest awaits!
When the 72 return, they rejoice having discovered, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” They begin to understand they are Christ’s presence in the world.
***
God yearns for us to feel that same sense of urgency today. Every soul is a potential dwelling place for God; the harvest is abundant. And we, the ones already gifted with faith, are the laborers.
As Saint Catherine of Siena once wrote, “Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he sees, the hands with which he blesses. Christ has no body now but yours.”
This begs the question: “What role are we playing in reaping the harvest?”
***
Perhaps more than we might imagine. Allow me to offer a few examples from within our parish.
I think of some of our high school students who decided to give back, voluntarily offering four days of their summer to serve as aides and role models in our faith formation program this week.
I think of those who bring Communion to our brothers and sisters at Sunrise Assisted Living every Sunday.
I think of an elderly woman who attends daily Mass once a week. She brings the bulletin back for other residents in her complex who are homebound – and with the bulletin, a visit.
I think of the volunteers who’ve stepped forward to dig into parish-wide strategic plan, not only addressing the needs of our youth, but “all generations.”
I think of the two-hundred other volunteers who contribute in some way to the life and liturgy of our parish.
Together, we are reaping the harvest, each in our own way.
***
Think of that little girl standing on the shore with her father. Picking up a single starfish, she tossed it back into the sea and said:
“Dad, for that one I just made ALL the difference.”
As we adopt this attitude, the harvest becomes increasingly manageable.
Together, we can make a difference – not for one, but for all.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Vacation on Marco (2) Art Station (3) StockCake
As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Jews hated tax collectors, who were often viewed as thieves, extorting money from their neighbors, even the poor.
They had only one king – God. Paying taxes to the Romans through people like Matthew was a type of infringement upon God’s right as their sovereign king.
Jewish law even forbade tax collectors from entering the synagogue; they were thrown into the same ritual lot as unclean animals, robbers, and murderers. In a word, they were considered, scum.
Yet it’s the tax collector, Matthew, whom Jesus calls in today’s Gospel, revealing the Lord’s ability to see deep into the human heart, weighing not only what a person does, but also what a person can become.
***
For the next three years, Matthew will learn how to leave himself and his desires behind in order to follow Jesus.
After the resurrection, he will write one of the four Gospels, preaching this Good News as far as Ethiopia, where it’s believed he was martyred.
***
As we celebrate this July 4th weekend, Matthew reminds us that the truest use of our freedom is not to do whatever we want, but to surrender to Christ, following him wherever he may go, even to the ends of the earth.
Saint Matthew, pray for us.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Our Sunday Visitor (2) Call of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio (3) Hands of God Church, Austin TX
