Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard of the works of Jesus among His people, curing the sick, casting demons and evil spirits out from those who were possessed. We heard how the people sought for Jesus, hoping that He would touch them and heal then from their sicknesses. And Jesus, having pity on them, healed them and made them whole again.

But at the same time, when Jesus was begged to stay at that place where He had performed the miracles, Jesus said to His disciples that He must go on to other places, and not to stay in that place for too long, for there were also many other people who needed His help and providence, and He was sent into this world so that all the people might hear the word of God’s truth and be saved through Him.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what then is the significance of what we have heard in the Scripture passages today? First of all, the Lord is calling us to serve Him and to do His good works among the people, by caring in the same manner as how the Lord had cared for His people. The Lord has entrusted us all Christians to care for one another, and the authority has been given to us, through the Church, for those whom God had appointed, to cast out demons and to bring healing to the people afflicted.

Yet at the same time as we have heard in the Gospel, we see how it is easy for us to be tempted to remain in our comfort zone and to be slack in our faith. Why so? Just as Jesus was begged by the people to stay at where He had performed His healing miracles and exorcisms, all of us will also be tempted to remain within our comfort zone, within the boundaries of what we are familiar and comfortable with, that we end up refusing to do what we should have been able to do as Christians.

In this, therefore, all of us are challenged to do what we can do, and contribute in whatever way we can, to show love, care and concern for others, especially to all those who are less fortunate than us, those who are without love and affection, to those who have been rejected by others and by the community. All of us should be loving in all of our actions and deeds, and we should reach out to those who are needy, and share with them the blessings we have received from God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, have all of us been devoted to God in this manner? And have we done what the Lord had challenged us to do in our lives? Have we as Christians committed our time and effort in order to touch the lives of others around us? Or have we rather ignored the plea and the cries of the needy and the hungry, those who were suffering and in pain?

Let us all from now on dedicate ourselves anew, walking faithfully in God’s ways, and do whatever we can, beginning from ourselves and from all those whom we encounter in life. We may think that as a mere human being and as a mere person, we may not be able to do a lot or in a significant manner for all those who need our help. Yet, everything needs a beginning, or else it will never begin. If we do not start to take action now, when will it be then?

Let us all renew our effort and double down on what we can do, to care for those who need our help. Let our actions and works be the extensions of the good work of God. May the Lord also bless us all and help us on our path, that we may always be ready to do the work of God, and following the footsteps of our Lord, Who is ever ready to extend His merciful grace to those who are sick, physically and spiritually. May He be with us always and with our endeavours. Amen.