Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Third Sunday after Pentecost

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 9:35–10:8)

It is appropriate to examine the authority of His words no less than His deeds, because, as we said, there consists the same important significance in His words as in His actions. The Lord had compassion on the harassed and helpless crowd just as a flock is scattered about without a shepherd. And He said: The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few, pray that the Lord of the harvest send out many workers into the harvest. Once He called his disciples together, He gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to cure every kind of sickness and disability. While these events were pertinent to their present context, it is necessary to consider what significance they have for the future.

No troublemaker had stirred up the crowd, nor were they harassed or made helpless by some calamity or disturbance. Why did the Lord have pity on those who were harassed and helpless? Clearly, the Lord took pity on the people troubled by the oppressive violence of the unclean spirit and disabled by the weight of the Law because they still had no shepherd who would restore to them the guardianship of the Holy Spirit. Although the fruit of this gift was most abundant, nothing had yet been harvested. For the Spirit’s abundance surpasses the multitude of those who draw on Him. If everyone gathers as much as he needs, there is always enough to give generously. It is useful that the Lord ministers through many; He urged nonetheless that we ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth many workers into the harvest, that is, that we ask God to grant an abundance of harvesters who utilize the gift of the Holy Spirit which was prepared. Through prayer and supplication God pours His bounty upon us. In order to indicate that this harvest and the many harvesters would be drawn first from the twelve apostles, He gave to those gathered together the authority for expelling spirits and for healing every kind of sickness. By the powers of this gift they were able to expel the Troubler and cure illness. It is appropriate that we consider the significance of each point of this teaching.

At this point all authority of the Lord’s power is transferred to the apostles, those who in Adam had been formed in the image and likeness of God, and now shared in the perfect image and likeness of Christ. Their power differs in no way from that of the Lord, since they who were once earthbound are now of heaven. They preach the coming of the Kingdom of heaven; they have now acquired the image and likeness of God in the fellowship of truth—as all the saints, who are called of heaven, may reign with the Lord; they heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons; and, whatever Adam’s evils incited by Satan are brought against the body, they cleanse again because they share the Lord’s authority. So that they will completely realize the likeness of God according to the prophecy of Genesis, they are commanded to give freely as they have freely received. In other words, for a gracious gift let there be a gracious offering of service.

Hilary of Poitiers, Commentary on Matthew 10.1–2, 4