Study, Pray, Serve: 11th Sunday of the Year
The central message of this homily is that God's love is not earned but freely given—proven by Christ's death while we were still sinners. Father Andrew Ritchie draws from the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus sees the crowds as 'troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd,' and responds with deep compassion. This divine pity becomes the foundation for mission: Jesus sends out the twelve apostles with authority to heal and proclaim the kingdom of heaven. The homily emphasizes that this same mission continues today—each believer is personally called, authorized, and sent by God to serve others in their sphere of influence. The Exodus reading reinforces this covenantal relationship: Israel is chosen not for merit but to become 'a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.' The Psalm echoes this identity: 'We are his people, the sheep of his flock.' Finally, St. Paul’s letter to the Romans delivers the heart of the Paschal mystery—God’s unconditional love, revealed in Christ’s sacrifice for the ungodly. This love is not conditional on our worthiness, but on God’s mercy. The takeaway? No matter how far we've wandered or how deep our guilt, we are never beyond the reach of God’s redeeming love.
God's love is unconditional—Christ died for us while we were still sinners, not because we deserved it.
You are personally called, authorized, and sent by God to serve others in your daily life.
The Church's mission began with Jesus sending the twelve apostles to heal and proclaim the kingdom of heaven.
Our identity as Christians is rooted in the covenant God made with Israel: we are 'a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.'
When we feel unworthy or distant from God, remember: Jesus died for us even in our sin—our return is always possible.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Heart of Jesus: Compassion for the Lost
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus' heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd.”
The Call to Mission: Authorization and Sending
“We too are called by name. We too are authorized. We too are sent by God within the sphere of our own influences to be able to help shape and direct others.”
Covenant and Identity: A Kingdom of Priests
The Exodus reading reveals God’s covenant with Israel—chosen not for merit but to become a 'kingdom of priests, a holy nation.' This identity is fulfilled in Christ and passed on to the Church.
The Joy of Being God's Flock
Psalm 100 calls the people to joyful service: 'We are his people, the sheep of his flock.' This identity brings joy, purpose, and strength to live for the Lord.
Unconditional Love: Christ Died for the Ungodly
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“The part here is that we too are called by name. We too are authorized. We too are sent by God within the sphere of our own influences to be able to help shape and direct others.”
“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus' heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd.”
Host
God
other
Jesus Christ
person
Father Andrew Ritchie
person
the twelve apostles
other
Matthew 9:36-10:8
other
the lost sheep of israel
other
Exodus 19:2-6a
other
Romans 5:6-11
other
Psalm 100
other
We love because He has first loved us
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