11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

Have you ever heard of a man named Homer Sewell? For decades, Homer has borne a striking physical resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. Years ago, he decided to grow a beard, put on a black suit and a stovepipe hat, and suddenly, everywhere he went, people started calling him "Abe." He embraced it, eventually making thousands of appearances as the 16th president. "As soon as I get my suit on and my hat," Homer explains, "I become Abraham Lincoln." He is part of a passionate group of men and women dedicated to bringing the former president to life for the modern world.

As we listen to today’s Gospel, it strikes me that Jesus is doing something very similar. He is laying the foundation for an "Association of Jesus-Presenters." By choosing and commissioning His apostles, Jesus is sending them—and He is sending us—out into the world to make His love, His mercy, and His healing visible.

Today’s readings all revolve around a single, powerful theme: God loves us, and He commissions us to share that love.

We see this right away in our First Reading from Exodus. God gives the Israelites incredible news: they are His "special possession." But He goes even further, calling them "a kingdom of priests, a holy nation." In the ancient world, only a tiny, elite class could be priests. But God flipped that upside down. He expects His entire people to be holy.

St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans just how deep this love goes. Jesus didn't wait for us to have our lives perfectly together. Paul tells us Christ died for us while we were "helpless," "ungodly," and "still sinners." That unearned grace is the greatest proof of God's love.

And in today's Gospel from Matthew, we see that love put into action. Jesus looks out at the crowds and is moved to His core with compassion. He sees them as "sheep without a shepherd"—harassed, helpless, and in need of guidance. Realizing that "the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few," Jesus doesn't just work harder Himself; He deputizes the Twelve Apostles. He gives them authority to preach, to heal, to cleanse lepers, and to cast out demons. His final instruction to them is the absolute core of our Christian mission: "Freely you have received; freely give."

So, what does this commissioning mean for you and me sitting in these pews today? It means we have a job to do.

First, we are called to be those "Jesus-Presenters." Like the men who present Abraham Lincoln to the world, our job is to present Jesus to our families, our workplaces, and our communities. We don’t do this by wearing a costume, but by living out our Faith. When we act with extraordinary grace, when we forgive the unforgivable, and when we love without condition, people should be able to look at our lives and catch a glimpse of Christ.

Second, we are called to be healers in a broken world. Jesus commanded His apostles to cure the sick and cleanse the lepers. We may not have the miraculous power to raise the physically dead, but look around—we are surrounded by people who are spiritually and emotionally dead. "Cleansing lepers" today means reaching out to the marginalized, the rejected, and the lonely. "Casting out demons" means helping our loved ones break free from the suffocating addictions and societal pressures that rob them of their freedom and dignity.

Third, we must give freely. "Freely you have received; freely give." Every single thing we are, everything we have—our breath, our talents, our resources, our Faith—is a sheer gift from God. None of it was earned. Because these gifts are priceless, they are meant to be used generously for the benefit of others, not hoarded for our own comfort.

And finally, we must pray for the laborers. Jesus specifically asks us today to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Please, pray fiercely for your bishops, your priests, and your deacons. We carry the heavy spiritual burdens of the flock, but we share your human weaknesses. We need your prayers to survive and to minister effectively. And we must pray for an increase in vocations, that more young men and women will have the courage to hear God’s call.

Friends, as we prepare to come to the altar today, remember the author of today's Gospel: Matthew. He was a tax collector. He was despised, a traitor to his people, an outcast. Yet, when Jesus looked at him and said, "Follow me," Matthew left it all behind to become a saint and a powerful Jesus-Presenter.

No matter your past, no matter your weaknesses, Jesus looks at you with that exact same compassion today. He has given you His grace freely. Now, let us go out, and freely give it to the world.

Amen.