Reflections on Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

In today's gospel reading, we witness Jesus in motion. He travels from town to town, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the Good News, and healing every disease and illness. But something profound happens when he looks at the crowds gathered before him.

The Heart of Compassion

Jesus doesn't see numbers or statistics. He sees individuals—tired, troubled, searching. The gospel tells us his heart was moved with pity because they were "like sheep without a shepherd." This image captures the human condition: we wander, we search, we long for direction and purpose.

In our modern world, this description still rings true. How many people around us are navigating life without guidance, struggling with burdens they carry alone, or simply searching for meaning in their daily routines?

The Abundant Harvest

Jesus then turns to his disciples with an observation that seems almost contradictory: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few." There is no shortage of people who need hope, healing, and the message of God's love. What's lacking are those willing to bring it to them.

This isn't a call reserved for religious professionals or those with special training. Jesus commissions his twelve disciples—ordinary people with diverse backgrounds—and gives them the same authority he possessed. They are sent to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and drive out demons.

Without Cost You Have Received

The final instruction contains the heart of Christian mission: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

Everything we have—our gifts, our faith, our very lives—comes as grace. We didn't earn God's love or pay for his mercy. It was given freely. And in the same spirit, we are called to give freely to others.

This challenges our transactional way of thinking. We live in a world of exchanges, where everything has a price and every service expects compensation. But the gospel operates on a different economy—one of abundance, generosity, and self-giving love.

Our Response Today

What does this mean for us in December 2025? It means looking at our own communities with the same compassion Jesus showed. Who around us is troubled or abandoned? Who needs a word of encouragement, an act of kindness, or simply someone to notice their struggle?

We may not be able to physically heal the sick or raise the dead, but we can bring healing through forgiveness, reconciliation, and presence. We can raise spirits that have been deadened by disappointment. We can cleanse relationships that have been infected by bitterness. We can drive out the demons of loneliness and despair through authentic connection.

The harvest is still abundant. The question is whether we will be among the laborers who answer the call, extending freely what we have freely received.