We are called by Jesus to witness to the Gospel to others. It is by the power of Jesus that this proclamation is accomplished and fruitful. Without His power, we are powerless to bring about conversions. This is shown from the first reading where God complains, “How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel?”. Compare this to the immediate exorcism effected by the power of Jesus in the Gospel:
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
Be Prepared
We should be prepared to encounter resistance when we preach the Gospel. The first reading shows the state of the battlefield into which we must venture for the love of God and of souls. It is a battlefield full of errors and evils of all varieties. Men and women enslaved to sin and worshiping vice. Yet the heart of Jesus sees not trials, but only the souls lost on their way.
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.”
Let us pray to share in the Heart of Jesus and to see souls with the same compassion, no matter the difficulties. Let us all resolve to be bold is witnessing to the Gospel even if only in small ways.
