Tuesday, 14th Week of Ordinary Time

June 8, 2003

by Reverend Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge

In today’s 1^st reading we hear about Jacob, the son of Issac and the grandson of Abraham, our forefather in faith, to whom God said, "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you." In today’s reading Jacob is seen wrestling with God, and he is not struck down for it. We will not be struck down either. God wants us to confide in him and for us to honestly share with him our longings and desires, as well as our faults and failures and our sorrows. In other words, everything that makes up our everyday living and life.

Today’s gospel tells about Jesus curing the mute, casting out demons and curing all kinds of diseases and illnesses. Jesus felt great compassion for the people, because, he said, "they are like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus recognized that there are so many people in need and so much work to be done. He invites us to pray for shepherds, all those who will follow in his footsteps and bring compassion and help to those in need. But we must remember, too, that each of us is called to be a shepherd and to be present to and be of service to all those who cross our paths daily.

It is imperative that each of us reflects on all the people of our world who are suffering from all kinds of illnesses and diseases, injustices of every sort, starving and without homes and where there is no one to care for them. We, as Christians, are called to be shepherds to these people in any way we can. For some it is to pray for them daily. That is something we can all do. And in our prayer, we also need to ask God for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, deaconate and religious life, that there be more laborers for God’s abundant harvest.