From the Deacon's Desk

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:32-38)

MOVED WITH PITY: This is not the only time in the Gospels that we hear that Jesus was “moved with pity” for the people He encountered.

When Jesus looks at us, what does He see? Do we look troubled? Do we feel abandoned? Are we wandering aimlessly, like a sheep without a shepherd?

Luckily there are no wrong answers to these questions. We come out a winner regardless of our response.

If we say, “No, we are not troubled; we do not feel abandoned; and we are not wandering aimlessly,” it is likely because we feel God’s presence in our lives. We are going about our day confidently, knowing we are being embraced in the loving arms of Jesus. We trust Him.

If we say, “Yes, we are troubled; we do feel abandoned; and we are wandering aimlessly,” it is because we have lost sight of Him. We have put our trust in ourselves or in others and have lost our way.

Luckily, when Jesus sees us struggling with these feelings of hopelessness, His heart is moved with pity for us. He scoops us back up into his loving arms, assuring us that our Shepherd has returned.