Wednesday after the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on October 20, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 9:35-38 (NKJV)
9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Devotion
There is often a distinction between the multitudes and the disciples. Many would gather to hear Jesus preach and teach, but His disciples were the ones who were committed to learning from Him. We still have examples of this difference in our time. Some people say they are “spiritual,” or they like the idea of what Jesus was about. But passing interest does not really make one a “disciple.”
Our Lord’s teaching was focused on the disciples. He preached to them in ways that held them accountable to their faith, and He taught them wisdom that would help them to grow in that faith. However, He definitely had compassion on the multitudes who were “just visiting,” as well. This continues to be true in His Church. The Apostolic Ministry preaches, teaches, and administers the Holy Sacraments for the sake of those who are committed to the Scriptural doctrine and fellowship of the orthodox Church, but we are also glad to have visitors come to our worship. After all, visitors often become members!
But the lambs need to be part of a flock, and they need to be with a good shepherd. So we should continue to help and pray for those who are interested in order that, by God’s grace, they may truly hear the Good Shepherd and be one of His faithful disciples in the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
