Chosen to Care

The readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time open a window into the tender and compassionate heart of God.

From the parched wilderness of Sinai to the dusty roads walked by Jesus and His apostles, we see a God who continually reaches toward the people with mercy, love, and purpose. God does not abandon the people in their weakness. Instead, God draws near, calling them into relationship and sending them forth as instruments of hope and mercy.

In the first reading (Exodus 19:2-6a), God reminds the Israelites that He carried them “on eagle wings.” It is an image of protection, strength, and care. Just as an eagle lifts its young above danger, God has guided His people through fear, uncertainty, and suffering. He calls upon them to become “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation,” a people set apart not for mission. They are chosen to reflect God’s presence in the world.

That same compassionate heart is also revealed in today’s Gospel (Matthew 9:36–10:8). Jesus looks upon the crowds and sees people who are weary, scattered, and searching, “like sheep without a shepherd.” He responds with compassion. Before He sends the apostles into the world, He first allows His heart to be moved by the suffering of others. The mission of the Church begins in the heart of Christ, a heart filled with mercy for the lost, the wounded, and the forgotten.

What makes this Gospel so inspiring is the people Jesus chooses to lead this mission. The apostles were not powerful or extraordinary by worldly standards. They were ordinary men with fears, weaknesses, and imperfect pasts. Yet Jesus called them by name and entrusted them with the work of healing, restoring, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. In this, we are reminded that God does not wait for perfection before calling someone into service. He simply asks for willing hearts. Grace has always worked through ordinary people who are open to God’s call.

That call continues today. Christ still looks upon a weary world with compassion, and He still sends disciples into the harvest. Every act of kindness, every prayer offered for another, every word of encouragement or forgiveness becomes part of that mission. Jesus tells His apostles, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” We who have received the mercy of God are invited to become reflections of that mercy for others. 

Faith Sharing Questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus chose ordinary people as His apostles?

2. In what ways is Jesus calling you to bring healing or hope to someone right now?

3. When have you felt God carrying you “on eagle wings” through a difficult time?