11TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY – YEAR A 2026
JESUS COMMISSIONS THE TWELVE AND MORE TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS, STARTING AT HOME
Mt 9.36-10.8 4.26-34 Ex 19.2-6 Rom 5.6-11
Pope Francis also said that a homily is to: “Help move the Word of God from the book to life… But the homily for this must be short: an image, a thought a feeling… (It) should not go beyond 8 minutes because after that time you lose attention, and people fall asleep.” !! So, stay awake meanwhile, as I speak to you now! (It has been pointed out that Francis often exceeded this time limit himself!).
Anyway, I have to keep this short, to your relief, as I have Mass for First Communions at OLN next!
Here we are, back in ordinary time, continuing Matthew’s call to mission, as Jesus first calls forward, then sends the 12 apostles out to continue his proclamation of the Kingdom, in stages, first to the locals of Jewish background, then to the ‘lost sheep’ of Israel, as he puts it, then the Samaritans and Gentiles or pagans come later. Then, by the end of his Gospel, there is the ultimate commission to take the Good News to the ends of the earth, as we’re still trying to do our best, knowing we’ll never quite get there.
Firstly, demonstrating his compassion, Jesus connects with the crowds, described as ‘harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’, which role he obviously has taken on, but then acknowledging that he needs practical support from those who are following him, and taking his message to heart. And so, he undertakes to prepare his inner circle of 12 apostles, whom he has called by name, to extend his ministry of healing and service to humanity weighed down by the worries of the world, and to offer them hope. It is to be a healing and liberating mission, offering encouragement and hope, but at the same time, accepting that we live in an imperfect world, ourselves included!
Jesus doesn’t just send them out without giving them his own authority and power over evil and illness. It can be presumed that Matthew has translated this message into his own early Christian communities, primarily of Jewish origin, prior to expanding the mission to all, as he moves towards a universalist application of the Gospel, as those taking up the mission to preach and teach and build new faith communities, move outwards. So, he is also describing the mission of the believers, not to remain within their own little groups, but to apply themselves to the task of spreading the Good News, wherever they go.
Here we are, continuing that mission in our own community and environment, doing our bit to be Gospel people, by what we say and do, supporting each other, by gathering in faith for worship and reflection, and then, in service through action and outreach, with the various groups we have in our parish community and beyond.
As Claude Mostowik MSC says: ”Grace abounds where people are willing to let it pass freelythrough them to others – no more closed doors, privileged elites and special access. Only in a Church in which all are welcomed, listened to and loved, will reveal the God of infinite love and unconditional mercy.“ And so, we are called to respond to that grace, and sent out to share it. That’s our continuing mission.
john hannon 14th June 2026