It Takes All Kinds

A common temptation we can fall into is thinking that God can’t use us for his plan. Our flaws and character defects are too great for him to overcome. Nothing can be further from the truth; the twelve’s sending demonstrates that. These were men with deep flaws, yet Jesus was able to accomplish great things through them. Hold onto that thought as you read this Gospel passage.

Gospel - Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,

and curing every disease and illness.

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them

because they were troubled and abandoned,

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest."

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples

and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out

and to cure every disease and every illness.

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,

"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

Cure the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give."

Scriptural Analysis

In this passage from his Gospel, Matthew chooses to use a literary structure that is quite common in the scriptures: a chiastic structure. The best way to think about this literary device is to envision a mountain. During the ascent of the mountain, the author will make several points. The focal point of the passage is the summit. Then, on the descent, the author will touch on the same points made during the ascent. In a culture where oral transmission is still a predominant means of handing on information, this structure aids in remembering the material.

The chiastic structure of this passage is:

1) Jesus proclaims the Gospel and cures the people. (9:35)

2) The crowds are like sheep without a shepherd. (9:36)

3) Ask the master to send out laborers for he harvest. (9:38)

4) Jesus summons the twelve. (10:1)

5) Jesus gives the twelve authority. (10:1)

4) The names of the twelve disciples are given. (10:2-4)

3) Jesus sends out the twelve. (10:5)

2) The twelve are sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. (10:6)

1) The twelve proclaim the Gospel and cure the people. (10:7-8)

The passage opens with a reference to the Prophet Ezekiel. In Chapter 34 of Ezekiel, we hear the Lord chastise the “shepherds of Israel” when he says, “Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?” (Ezekiel 34:2) This image of the sheep without a shepherd is used here to describe the corruption that is plaguing the Israelite leaders at that time. Further on in that passage, we hear how the Lord “myself will search for my sheep” and that he will “set up over them one shepherd, my servant David” (Ezekiel 34:11,23)

Jesus is traveling around the towns and villages, and his heart is moved with pity for the people. This expression describes the deep emotional concern that Jesus has for his people. In describing the people as “sheep without a shepherd” Matthew not only shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Ezekiel but he is also critiquing the Jewish leaders of his day

Jesus remarks that the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. The crowds were moved by the message of Jesus, but the religious leaders, who should have been the laborers, opposed Jesus’s message. Therefore, he exhorts them to pray to the Lord to send out new laborers for the harvest.

In response to this, Jesus appoints twelve apostles. The number twelve is not insignificant. It recalls the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is announcing the kingdom of the New Israel and that these twelve men will be important figures in that kingdom. Jesus is the new Moses, and just, and Moses had help from the twelve tribes, “And there shall be with you a man from each tribe,” So also, will Jesus have the help of these twelve men? (Numbers 1:4)

Jesus gives the twelve apostles authority. This is critical. In Chapters 5-9, Matthew establishes the authority of Jesus through his teaching and the miracles he has worked on. Now, the apostles will share in that authority. They will drive out spirits and heal the ill.

The full text of this Gospel (not what is read at Mass) names the twelve Apostles. Jesus then sends them specifically to the people of Israel, the people of the covenant with God. These twelve are going to do what the religious leaders should have been doing: caring for the people of Israel and leading them to the Messiah, Jesus.

Daily Application

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Ambrose. Here is a man who, when calls for him to become the Bishop of Milan arose, hid as he felt he was utterly unqualified to be a Bishop. Yet here is a man who would be essential in the fight against the Arrian Heresy and the man who would later Baptize Saint Augustine.

Saint Ambrose is an excellent example of what we see in the Gospel today. Jesus can accomplish amazing things through flawed humans. The measure of how successful we will be is not how prepared we are. In fact, it is fair to say that none of us are ever fully prepared for God’s call. Our true measure of success will be found in how much we say yes to our Lord and allow him to equip us and work through us. Ultimately, that is what God desires from us. We are not called to have all the answers to the challenges that will face us. We are called to be docile, to meet our Lord in prayer, to say yes to his call, and to allow him to lead us. That is how twelve seemingly unprepared and insignificant men were able to spread the message of Jesus to the end of the earth.