THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Shepherds for the Sheep: Mt 9,35-10,4
We have seen in chapters 5 to 9 the evangelist's presentation of Jesus as Messiah in word and deed. These chapters have all been centred on Jesus and his activities. Yet Jesus cannot do it all on his own. We remember too that Matthew is writing for a community several decades after the resurrection and is addressing its needs. The Gospel is about the present as much as it is about the past.
The ministry of Jesus in verse 35 thus leads to his realisation in verse 36 that he needs help. He has compassion, he feels sorry for the crowds. It's a Greek word that does not translate easily but stresses the interiority of the feeling. The NABRE for example mentions Jesus' heart though that is not in the original Greek.
The theme of Israel's rulers as failed shepherds is common in the OT. Ezekiel chapter 34 is the sharpest of many sharp criticisms. The phrase "sheep without a shepherd" is found in the references I gave from Numbers and 1st Kings. For the magi in 2,6, it is ironically the leaders of Israel who quote the prophet Micah referring to the one who is "to shepherd my people Israel".
The theme of the harvest which will come at the end of time is also frequent in the OT. This image will come up again in the parables in chapter 13.
Thus the prayer in 9,38 leads straight into 10,1 where there are now twelve disciples who are being given similar authority to that of Jesus himself; Jesus is the sole authority for them. 9,37 mentioned only "disciples".
Twelve recalls the twelve tribes of Israel in the past. For the mission of Jesus, the aim is the restoration of the twelve tribes of the new Israel (19,28).
In verse 2, the twelve disciples are called twelve apostles. Christian tradition largely reflects the books written by Luke for the emphasis on apostles. The word "apostles" is used here for the only time in Matthew and is best seen as functional. "Apostles" means "those sent", it is what Jesus does in verse 5.
Of the twelve disciples/apostles, the prominent ones would be the brothers Peter and Andrew and the two Sons of Zebedee whose calling by Jesus was told in 4,18-22. The call of Matthew was made in 9,9. Philip and Thomas have their part to play in the Gospel of John (Jn 14 for example). Judas the traitor is always condemned throughout the NT. The others are no more than names to us.
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The Sunday Gospel: Mt 9,36-10,8
The Sunday Gospel by continuing on to 10,8 says more about what it means to be an apostle, someone who is sent out by Jesus. It is therefore a good place to end the Sunday reading.
The part of the book of Exodus from which the OT reading is taken (Ex 19,2-6) recounts the formation of the people of Israel into the people of God. It has that reminder of God's constant protection, "I carried you on eagle's wings". The people are to be a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation. The psalm then echoes the Gospel by reminding us that we are his people, the sheep of his flock. The gathering of the sheep to the shepherd could therefore indicate the forming of a new people of God.
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