Reflection for Sunday 14th June, 2026

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The harvest is rich, the labourers are few (Matthew 9:36-10:8)

Today we return to Matthew’s Gospel which is constructed around five great sermons. Firstly, the Sermon on the Mount outlined the masterplan of the kingdom of God. Today’s Reading is from the second sermon, which is the instruction of the apostles.

Jesus always urged us to see what is good in people rather than what is bad. “Blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God.”

Jesus practised what he preached. He had an extraordinary ability, the eye of an artist, to see potential in unlikely people. By the grace of God, Simon Peter, a man with a fiery temper, who once pulled out a sword to slice off the ear of a soldier, was chosen to be the first pope

Christ has no body but yours: no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world.

The brothers, James and John, were known as the Sons of Thunder. Once, they offered to call down fire on a Samaritan town which rejected Jesus. The cheek of these brothers! They did not ask Jesus to call down the fire but they would do it! Yet Jesus saw their potential. James became the first of the apostles to be martyred. John lived longer than the others and became the contemplative who inspired the Gospel of John and other writings. Simon, a nationalist zealot, learned how to work with Matthew, who collected taxes for the despised Romans. An unlikely team became wonderful missionaries.
A motto in advertising is to think globally but act locally. The missionary strategy of Jesus was to work with the small group in the limited area of Galilee and Judea. The mission would extend worldwide after Pentecost.

The harvest is rich, the labourers are few

I was ordained a priest sixty years ago. The first Sunday I faced a congregation, the Gospel was the one we have today. Jesus felt sorry for the congregation because “They were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” I can still remember a strange feeling when I looked at the congregation. Would my life be for people who are harassed and rejected? “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.” And we are ageing. Pray earnestly for vocations to the priesthood.

Christ is counting on you (Cursillo motto)

It is important for you to know the graces you received in the sacrament of baptism. “As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life” (Rite of Baptism). After baptism with water, with the Oil of Chrism you were christened. You are sharing in the priesthood of Christ. The Church of tomorrow will depend on you.
St. Teresa of Avila has given us a beautiful reflection.
Christ has no body but yours: no hands, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks: yours are the hands with which he blesses the world.
At the end of Mass, go out to love and serve the Lord.