We learn in the Gospel that Jesus cared for the poor and outcasts. He had compassion,
which moved him to alleviate the pain and suffering of those he encountered. He preached the good news of God’s love and salvation and demonstrated God's compassion and love for humanity. Jesus sent out his disciples and told them to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and drive out demons. Jesus was not instructing his disciples to do the impossible. These things were not impossible because he did what he told the disciples to do.
Like the disciples, we are invited to go out into the world, into humanity and be like Jesus. Sometimes we might think we do not have the power that Jesus has, but he gives us authority and the grace to be able to imitate him. Our
world might be different today from Jesus’ time, but there will always be the sick to attend to and visit, prisoners longing for God’s love demonstrated through mercy and forgiveness, the poor to whom we can show compassion and empathy, and many other people who society has deemed unworthy. We are invited to demonstrate God’s unconditional love and acceptance to all.
Jesus was driven by God’s love and compassion for humanity, God’s desire to save us from death. He performed miracles not because he had favourites or benefited somehow from all of this. Jesus was in it for all people. Like Jesus, we are invited to give to everyone without cost
because we have received everything with cost.
What drives your contribution to ministry? Where else might the Lord invite you to go today? What graces do you need to respond gracefully to this
invitation?
Reflections by Morongoa Selepe
