WORDS FROM FATHER YOHANES: Moved by Mercy, Sent for Mission

By Father Yohanes Akoit

As we celebrate the Holy Mass of the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Church gives us the Gospel reading about the call of the Apostles (Matthew 9:36-10:8). It is striking to see that the call of the Apostles arises directly from the condition of the people and the needs of the time. The Gospel tells us clearly that when Jesus saw the crowds, He felt they were like sheep without a shepherd. Aware of their situation, He was moved with pity for them. And in response to that need, Jesus called His twelve Apostles.

In simple terms, the reality of the people became the main factor that moved Jesus to act. Jesus is not someone who sits in one place thinking about what to do; He goes out, He walks among the people, and He shares His blessings. Of course, Jesus has His master plan for the whole world, to protect humanity and save us from the slavery of sin. But within that great mission, He also has His daily movements, and these daily movements are often shaped by the needs of the people He encounters. We see many examples of this in Scripture. Jesus may be on His way to accomplish something, yet the condition of the people stops Him. He pauses, sacrifices His time, helps those in need, and then continues His mission. One beautiful example is the story of the poor widow whose only son had died (Luke 7:12). Jesus was on His way to the town of Nain. Near the city gate, He met the funeral procession. The widow did not ask for a miracle, nor was Jesus going there for her. Yet He saw her sorrow, felt pity, and took the initiative to help her.

The same essence appears in this Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus has pity towards His people. Therefore, the nature of apostleship is to have eyes that can see the needs of others. The Apostles are called to proclaim who Jesus is and to show the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. But at the same time, they must look at the condition of the people and respond with compassion.

This Gospel reminds us of our own calling. We are all disciples of Christ. Each of us has our responsibilities and daily duties. But the Lord invites us not to limit ourselves only to what is written in our job description. We are called to have eyes that can see the needs around us, hearts that are moved with compassion, and hands willing to take practical action. Even small acts, done with love, become blessings for those in need.

Fulfilling this task, Jesus invites us to keep echoing in our hearts His words: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” This means we must make the best use of our gifts so that we can be available to all kinds of people. We may not be doctors, but when a neighbor is sick, we can visit them, greet them, and offer a simple word of encouragement. Even a small gesture can become a source of strength for their recovery. In the same way, we may experience a shortage of priests in our parish, yet the spiritual needs of the people remain great. To face this reality, Jesus asks us to become, in a sense, a priest for ourselves, to take responsibility for our own spiritual growth. We can pray daily, guard our hearts from unhealthy desires, preserve our state of holiness, read Scripture, pray the rosary, and nourish our souls. This personal spiritual discipline helps us adjust to the needs of the moment. This principle applies to every aspect of life. There will always be situations where the “laborers are few,” but we can still adjust ourselves in such a way that we become a blessing for others and respond to the needs of our time.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.