Daily Gospel Reflection for June 18, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Lyn Francisco

Today's Gospel: Matthew 9:36-10:8

Going back to the beginning of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ ministry, one can see that it is Jesus Who does all the teaching, and it is Jesus Who does all the healing and driving out of demons. In fact, going back a verse from the one appointed for today,

“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.” Matthew 9:35

Showing great compassion towards the people who are like sheep without a shepherd, He commissioned His disciples to do the same, “g[iving] them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness” (10:1). They are asked to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, [and] drive out demons” (10:8). These were tasks that up until that point in Matthew’s narrative, Jesus had done Himself. Now He is giving authority to His disciples to do the same.

These same disciples, the first of whom we saw called back in Matthew 4, were taken from their own world and now are asked to go out into that same world to bring others into the Kingdom of God. Those He asked to become His disciples were a mixed lot as well: you have fishermen, tax collectors, and one who would eventually betray Jesus. They don’t seem like a group who would find common ground and get along with each other. And yet Jesus brought all these men together to proclaim the Word of God and to bring more people into the Kingdom of God. It will not be an easy mission: those who continued their ministry after Jesus’ death and resurrection would end up with tough roads ahead, and most would be martyred over it.

Ponder:

Have you ever been in a situation in which you were paired with people with whom you don’t have much in common and yet had to work together to complete a task? How did you overcome differences to achieve your goal?

Pray:

Gracious God, You showed compassion towards the crowds who were like lost sheep by bringing forth laborers, Your disciples, to preach and minister to them. May we also be driven by Your compassion towards others as we go forth to proclaim Your words to the world.

Click to tweet:
They don’t seem like a group who would find common ground and get along with each other. And yet Jesus brought all these men together to proclaim the Word of God. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Lyn Francisco

Lyn Francisco, an organic chemist by training and education, works with the Office of Undergraduate Education at Duke University. In her spare time, she occupies organ benches in churches around Durham, NC. She also serves as cantor at Immaculate Conception Church in Durham.