The word of God seems to know no bounds in describing it especially in today’s readings.
God tells Moses to recount for the Israelites how, “I bore you up on eagle’s wings”; and that, “You shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people.”
In the letter to the Romans, he talks about a redemptive love: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
But in a most human and direct way, JesusChrist revealed God’s love in his own person when he responded to the crowds with compassion.
Jesus feels the suffering of his people and responds with love.
It is in this context that Matthew’s Jesus chooses The Twelve, sends them forth to: cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The mission is to proclaim, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
We have been chosen as disciples
In baptism we have been anointed with Christ and filled with the Spirit of God.
Jesus Christ sends us forth. He instructs us to look at and respond to this world with compassion.
We are not to judge it. We are to feel its pain, see and understand its suffering, recognize its wounded condition, and understand its weakness in the face of the power of sin.
Anyone can judge it, but a true disciple sees it with compassion and loves as Christ loves.
A true disciple, furthermore, hears Jesus’ command to do this generously, completely, and with a totally open spirit, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
Disciples of love, disciples of compassion, generous disciples — and all will see and know “that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” — Epictetus.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
