(Gospel passage is at the end of commentary)
Observation:
The Gospel passage follows the several healings Jesus in Chapters 8 and 9, which included the cleansing of the leper, healing of the centurion’s servant, the cure of Peter’s mother in law, the exorcism of the demons of Gadarenes, healing of the paralytic, and several others.
Note, therefore, that when Jesus summons and sends the twelve disciples, the authority that he provides them are to heal and deliver unclean spirits. These are the very actions that Jesus did just prior, suggesting that Jesus’ commissioning is the extension of what he himself has done. (The commissioning to teach would come later, after the Resurrection.)
Interpretation:
Verse 9:36 states: “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.” The Greek word used for “moved with pity” (or “compassion” in another translation) derives from the noun for “bowels” or “guts” which is the seat of emotions. This shows how profound the emotion of Jesus was when he saw the crowd: it was more than just a disappointment but “pity” or “compassion” felt deep within his guts.
The shepherd imagery is common throughout the Bible for political and religious leadership. It is the lack of this spiritual leadership that becomes the impetus for Jesus’ commissioning of the twelve disciples.
The sending of the disciples is accompanied with the command and authority to heal and drive out demons. Verse 10:8 – “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.” Matthew associates the kingdom of heaven with the absence of sickness and spiritual wholeness. For Matthew, sin corrupted creation, hence our body and spirit are vulnerable to breaking down.
Thus, a clear way of proclaiming that the Kingdom of God has arrived is through healing. Healing miracles are the most numerous of the miracles performed by Jesus. This is because healing is a clear and palpable sign to everyone that Jesus ushers in the Kingdom, that he has power over sin, and can restore the break down which accompanies it. With the coming of Jesus, creation is new, and has began to be restored.
Thus, in the early church, the expansion of the church was accompanied by miraculous acts of healing. According to Tertullian, Christians healed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, restored the paralytics, exorcised the demons, and raised the dead
Finally, the “lost sheep of Israel” refers both to the whole of Israel, but particularly to those who, for whatever reason, were marginalized, and alienated from the main circles of religious leadership. To them lies the priority.
Generalization
Healing is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and it may be exercised by any believer. Spiritual healing may be by prayer, holy oil, laying on of hands, or through sacramental exercises, such as Unction and Eucharist, or through pilgrimages.
We are called to spiritual leadership, and our response is based on a deeply felt need (in the guts) of the desperation of a flock without a shepherd. We need to proclaim the Kingdom of God to them. Our leadership includes with it the mission, and authority, to pray for healing, both physical and spiritual. As spiritual leaders, our priority is always with the “lost sheep,” that is, the least, the last and the lost.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your degree of confidence when you pray for the healing of our brothers and sisters in community? How can you strengthen it?
- As a spiritual leader (of your family, caring circle, company, or society as a whole), how much priority do you place on the “lost sheep?”
Matthew 9:36 – 10:8
36 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.
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
1 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.
2 The names of the twelve apostles † are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
3 Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
4 Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve † after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 † Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
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