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Christ has no body now but yours.

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Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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There’s nothing that pains the Lord more than human suffering. In addition to today’s Gospel passage, consider a few other moments when Jesus is moved with pity.

His heart broke when he saw the widow at Nain.

This mother was on her way to bury her child – perhaps he imagined how his own mother would soon feel. Overcome with compassion, Jesus touches the boy’s tomb. Instantly, he’s brought back to life.

Then Jesus is moved with pity when he gazes upon a tired and hungry crowd. 

Thousands had been following him for days, but they had nothing to eat. So, the Lord multiplies loaves of bread and, the Gospel tells us, “all ate and were filled.”

Then he’s stirred with compassion when he’s confronted by a leper who spent his entire life in isolation. Feeling this man’s loneliness and sense of abandonment, Jesus forgives his sins, heals him, and sets him free.

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We could add thousands of other examples in our world today that pierce our Lord’s heart with pity. 

But, as Teresa of Avila once wrote, “Christ has no hands now but yours. No body but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he sees. Yours the hands with which he blesses. Christ has no body now but yours.”

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Moved with compassion by the suffering of others, may we use our eyes, hands, and feet to be the body of Christ for another today.

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Image credits: (1) Prayer of Teresa of Avila, Young Catholics (2) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christ Comforts Mary and Martha (3) Young Catholics, ibid.

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Two cases of healing – and a word for us today.

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Gospel: Matthew 9: 18-26

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.

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I was called to the ICU twice the day I wrote this sermon. In both cases, relatively young patients were knocking on death’s door while their families were surrounding them, praying for a miracle.

What I witnessed that day reminded me of what’s unfolding in today’s Gospel.

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There are two people who are sick.

One is a twelve-year-old girl, and the other is an older woman who’s been hemorrhaging for the last twelve years. Together, they represent all of humanity. 

The young girl represents every child who suffers, along with the pain and helplessness of their parents. The older woman represents all who are aging, whose minds and bodies have weakened over time.

In the middle of it all, there is Jesus, the compassionate healer who comes to their aid.  

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What does this Gospel passage mean for us? Or what does it teach us about Jesus? 

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First and foremost, that healing comes from God. Without Jesus, neither of these two people would’ve been healed – or saved.

Sometimes that healing is immediate, as is the case for the twelve-year-old girl.

For others, it takes time, as is the case for the woman who was hemorrhaging for twelve agonizing years. Thankfully, she never gave up.

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Perhaps today we can pray for all who are sick – including those who find themselves in the ICU. May the Lord grant them the healing they desire.

If that healing is not immediate, may their loved ones do what we all should in times of distress – persevere in prayer.

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Image credits: (1) Shadia Hrichi (2) Good News Unlimited, Ritchie Way (3) Sherry Schumann

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What happens when a soul wanders away from its shepherd?

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Gospel: Matthew 11: 25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed: 
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. 
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Do any of you recall seeing a picture of this sheep in the news a few years ago?

His name is Shrek.

Shrek’s story went viral after being found by his shepherd. Six years earlier, Shrek wandered away from the rest of the flock, getting lost in the hills of New Zealand. 

Miraculously, he survived by hiding in caves alone.

Without a shepherd to care for him, Shrek’s wool ballooned to sixty pounds, six times the average weight that a sheep normally carries. That’s enough wool to make 20 suits!

After he was found, it took only twenty minutes to shear all of that excess wool. Imagine that: six years of unnecessary weight lifted in a matter of minutes.

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Sometimes Shrek’s story can also be our story.

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We become like Shrek any time we wander away from the Lord. Although we know his voice, for some reason we neglect it.

Perhaps we stop praying; we stop attending Mass; we begin holding things in; we hide the truth from others; we fall into an unhealthy habit; we sink into fear; or we avoid confessing our sins.

Over time, the weight we bear inside balloons to four, five, even six times what we actually need to carry.

Life can seem unnecessarily heavy until we are reunited with our Shepherd, much like Shrek was after six long years. And when Jesus finds us, he shaves off all of that excess “fleece” that’s been weighing us down. 

Years of sin or guilt can be lifted in a matter of minutes. All it takes is an open heart; a willingness to surrender; and a cleansing confession.

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If Shrek represents a soul that’s wandered away from God, then what does it look like to remain close by his side?

Using today’s Gospel imagery, a soul that is united with Christ is like one ox yoked to another.

“Come to me all you who are heavy burdened,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So, what does it mean to be “yoked’ with Christ?

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A yoke is a wooden apparatus that farmers use to pair two oxen together. Often an older, more experienced ox is paired with a younger ox in order to teach it how to plow.

Jesus likens himself to that stronger, more experienced ox who does not fatigue in the heat of the mid-day sun. “My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” he says.

We are the weaker ones who can depend upon him while plowing through the fields of life. Even when the day is long, the sun is high, and the weight is heavy, we shall not be overcome. 

As Saint Paul reminds us, “God will not let you be tried beyond your strength. But with every trial will provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.” 

Our perspective changes – and broadens – once we recognize that Christ is plowing by our side. We can do all things through him who strengthens us.

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Where do I need to yoke myself to Christ? What aspect of my life seems heavy or hard to carry?

“Come to me,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest.”

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Consider the difference between the sheep and the ox.

Shrek the sheep lived by himself for six challenging years. Meanwhile, the Lord invites us to share our burdens with him, much like a young ox who’s yoked to a stronger, more experienced one.

Which one would I rather be – the one who wanders, or the one who never journeys alone?

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We are here to yoke ourselves to Christ.

As our vision statement reminds us: “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”

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Image credits: (1) Fr. Anthony Messeh (2) Ibid. (3) Business Insider: What a Sheep that Hasn’t been Shorn in Six Years Looks Like