11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 18, 2023)
Ex 19.1-6a; Rm 5.6-11; Mt 9.36-10.8
Today’s Psalm reminds us that it is God who is the author of life: “It is He that made us, and we are His.” We cannot, then, attempt to give or take away life as we please.
Jesus urges us to “pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He may send labourers into His harvest.” God calls labourers from every walk of life: priests, religious, married, or single. Each person has been given a task based on their vocation. Regardless of the particular task, each person is called to promote the Gospel of Life.
In working for the Lord, we are reminded by St. Paul that even while we were God’s enemies, God sent His Son to save us. So, Jesus tells us, “You received without payment; give without payment.” Our work to promote the culture of Life should always be without any desire for compensation. This work is our both a gift we must offer and a duty that we must undertake in response to God’s Love for us.
Pro-Life Intercession
That the gift of life, which we have received, we may give as a gift by working to save those in danger of abortion, euthanasia, or other forms of violence, we pray to the Lord …