Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
They must have sought the master of the harvest to send out laborers, as he had just instructed them to ask. For in this morning's Gospel reading we read that Jesus did indeed sent forth laborers to the harvest. He did so abundantly, equipping them to address the very same challenges which he himself addressed, to bring healing and freedom to the people. The twelve, then, were meant to act as extensions of the very power and authority of Jesus himself. Since Jesus was just one individual, however powerful, the abundant harvest demanded these additional laborers. This sending forth was an act of compassion on the part of Jesus, who was not content to leave the crowds feeling troubled and abandoned. These were the foundations that would eventually become his Mystical Body, the Church.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
There were twelve disciples, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. They were bringing about the restoration of Israel, the true Davidic kingdom that would last forever. It was therefore appropriate that they go first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The promise was given to Abraham and his descendents and, as Jesus told the Samaritan woman, salvation is from the Jews (see John 4:22).
When God chooses individuals or groups through special election for divine blessings this choice is never simply for the individuals or peoples themselves. Mary was blessed more than all women, but in her blessing we all find salvation. Abraham and his descendents were blessed, not for themselves alone, but so that the Gentile nations could share in those blessings through faith. In this we learn something of a typical pattern for God's action in salvation history. He does not simply begin, as we citizens of a modern Democracy might do, by blessing everyone equally all at once. Rather he bestows different blessings to different degrees, not to isolate from one another, but rather that we can be united in giving and receiving. This was true of the way that Joseph was privileged, first among his brothers by his father, and then later as the representative of Pharaoh, among the whole world.
In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain,
for famine had gripped the whole world.
The sons of Israel were among those
who came to procure rations.
It is true that Israel did not collectively receive Jesus, so we might wonder, why not just start with the Gentiles? But this is to disregard the very deep Jewishness of our Christian heritage, the fact that all the blessings we receive are the fulfillment of promises originally made to the Jewish people. And we remember too that God is not finished with the Jewish people yet. He still has plans for them to enter into and share in these same blessings.
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! (see Romans 11:11-12).
In what ways has God blessed us, and how are those blessings meant for others? How has God blessed others in unique ways, ways that we are not meant to struggle to reproduce, but rather to receive with humility and thanksgiving?
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
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