John Desing csc –
Readings: Ex 19:2-6; Rom 5:6-11; Mt 9:36-10:8
The readings of today reveal the image of God as a merciful and compassionate Father. In the first reading God shows his merciful love to the Israelites through Moses by bringing them back from the hands of the Egyptians. And he reminded them that they are God’s treasured possession if they only obey his voice.
Do we realize that each time we broke the covenant with God through our sinful deeds we went away from his presence? St Paul would remind us that through sin we become enemies of God, yet Christ chooses to die for his enemies.
God expresses his love for us by sending his only begotten son to show us the way to the kingdom. His son Jesus continues to guide and lead us as we journey towards our destiny. When Jesus saw the helpless crowd like sheep without shepherd, he had compassion. Not only that he had compassion but also entrusted his power and authority to the chosen disciples to cast out demons, to heal and to lead the people on the right path. This power and authority given by Christ is still effective even today through the apostolic succession.
God’s love comes to us primarily through mediation, i.e., through the leaders of the church and community. We need to pray that this authority is properly used for the proclamation of the kingdom values and to lead people to God.