Jesus' Heart Was Moved to Pity

In today’s Gospel, Mt 9: 35-10: 1, 5a, 6-8, we read that Jesus “went 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.”

Jesus, I believe, is very much moved with pity when he sees children abandoned, left without guidance and expected to make right decisions without parental  or adult supervision or direction; when parents  and adults are bent more on increasing their wealth  or accumulating material things than on nurturing a child’s or each other’s faith, building a child’s or one another’s confidence in themselves and trust in the Lord. I believe that God is moved with pity when we are so engrossed in ourselves that we do not spend time listening attentively and respectfully to others, when we do not take time to assist others in problem solving and/or being with them in times that are troubling to them.  Jesus, I believe, longs for us to seek His help in living as He did, engaged with those in need of healing, sharing meals with each other in our poverty as Jesus  invited Pharisees  and the poor to a meal with him. I believe that Jesus is moved with pity when we fail to share other people’s joy in events that are significant to them, as Jesus participated in the wedding feast of Cana.

Jesus spent his time here on earth doing good to all who were receptive to His generosity.  He rejoices when we do the same, when we do all in our power so that another is not abandoned or left in troubling situations.  Yes, we are here to be “shepherds” to abandoned “sheep”, to be sisters and brothers to each other in need and to allow others to respond to us in need as well.