My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The message of today can be summarized in one call: reach out to the left out. There are many people around us who have been abandoned, neglected, or forgotten by society, institutions, and even by those closest to them. As Christians, we are called to reach out to such people with love, compassion, and mercy.
On this Eleventh Sunday, the Church reminds us of our identity and mission as the people of God. The first call God gives to us is the call to belong to Him. God desires that we be His people. To be called God’s people is a special privilege, but it also comes with responsibility. If we are truly God’s people, we must listen to His voice and remain faithful to Him.
The second aspect of God’s call is discipleship. Before Jesus chose the Twelve Apostles, many people followed Him. Yet He selected certain individuals and entrusted them with a special mission. In the same way, God calls each of us not only to belong to Him but also to become His disciples and witnesses.
In the First Reading, we hear how God chose the people of Israel as His own and promised to guide them toward their destiny. However, this covenant relationship came with a condition: they were to remain faithful to Him. God’s promise of guidance and protection was linked to their faithfulness.
The same is true for us today. It is not enough to say that God has called us. We must respond to that call through faithful living. God is not asking us to impress Him with great achievements or extraordinary sacrifices. Some people think that God can be pleased merely by offering gifts, performing rituals, or making grand displays of devotion. But God, who is the Creator and source of all things, cannot be enriched by anything we give Him.
What God desires is our faithfulness.
He calls us to obey His commandments and to become more like Him. Since we are created in His image and likeness, we are called to live, think, and act as He does. How do we do this? Through love. The entire law of God is summarized in the commandment of love.
God welcomes all people regardless of tribe, culture, language, or background. That is why we gather together as one family in worship. As God’s children, we too must learn to welcome and love others without discrimination.
Even when His people fail, God does not abandon them. Throughout the history of Israel, God remained faithful despite their unfaithfulness. He continually sought them out and called them back to Himself.
The same is true for us. Like the people of the Old Testament, we often make promises to God and then fail to keep them. We stumble, fall, and go astray. Yet God remains faithful because His nature never changes.
God has not changed; it is we who have changed. We may drift away from Him, neglect our spiritual lives, or abandon our commitments, but He remains constant. Whether we are faithful or not, God continues to wait for us with open arms.
Therefore, I remind you today: God is waiting for you. Return to Him. Change your ways and allow His grace to transform your life.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds us of God’s unfailing faithfulness. As proof of His love, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. God never abandoned humanity because He had chosen us to be His people.
As disciples of Christ, we are called to continue His mission. We live in a society where many people feel abandoned, helpless, and forgotten. God calls us to minister to these people and become instruments of His love.
Charity must begin at home. You cannot neglect the people in your own household and then expect your acts of charity elsewhere to please God. If we ignore those closest to us while trying to appear generous in church and public, we miss the true meaning of Christian service.
We must begin by caring for those around us, our families, neighbors, employees, friends, and all who depend on us.
Each Christian has a unique calling. Through Baptism, we have received a new identity in Christ. Just as Jesus called each Apostle by name and entrusted each with a particular mission, He calls each of us to serve Him in a unique way.
Part of this mission is to show mercy to those who have failed. Often, those who have disappointed us are the very people who need our compassion the most. Instead of helping them rise again, we sometimes condemn and reject them.
As followers of Christ, we must remember that God does not define people by their failures. He sees their dignity and their potential for renewal. We are called to do the same.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus looked upon the crowds and saw that they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He was moved with compassion. He did not think about what He could gain from them; instead, He thought about how He could help them.
Sadly, there are times when people exploit those who are vulnerable. Even some religious leaders may be tempted to seek personal gain rather than genuine service.
Jesus gives us a different example. He teaches us to serve people selflessly and to care for their needs.
When influential people enter our churches or communities, our responsibility is not to flatter them for personal benefit but to remind them of their duty to serve others and work for justice.
Today’s message is simple: whenever we encounter people, let us not focus merely on their problems or weaknesses. Let us see an opportunity to help, heal, and uplift them.
Jesus also instructed His disciples to begin their mission among their own people. This teaches us an important lesson: before we seek to change the world, we must first allow God to change us.
We cannot effectively preach conversion if we refuse to confront our own faults. Many people want to change others while neglecting their own families, habits, and attitudes. True evangelization begins with personal conversion.
Therefore, let us begin in our homes. Let us examine our own lives, seek God’s grace, and strive to become faithful disciples. Then we will be able to bring others closer to Christ.
May God grant us the courage to answer His call, the grace to remain faithful, and the compassion to reach out to those who have been left out.
May His word dwell richly in our hearts through Christ our Lord.
Amen.