Today is Tuesday the 9th of July, the feast of Saints Leo Ignatius Mangin SJ, Mary Zhu Wu and Companions, in the 14th week of Ordinary Time. The Cape Town Camerata sings, Ubi Caritas: ‘Where charity and love are, God is there. Christ's love has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.’ Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor Exsultemus et in ipso iucundemur Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur Ne nos mente dividamur caveamus Cessent jurgia maligna cessent lites Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est Simul quoque cum beatis videamus Glorianter vultum tuum Christe Deus Gaudium quod est immensum atque probum Saecula per infinita saeculorum Amen Where charity and love are, God is there. Love of Christ has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice in Him and be glad. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And from a sincere heart let us love one. Where charity and love are, God is there. At the same time, therefore, are gathered into one: Lest we be divided in mind, let us beware. Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease. And in the midst of us be Christ our God. Where charity and love are, God is there. At the same time we see that with the saints also, Thy face in glory, O Christ our God: The joy that is immense and good, Unto the World without end. Amen. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 9:32-38 After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ In this story, there are two reactions to the healing performed by Jesus, that of the crowds, and that of the Pharisees. Which are you more drawn to? Jesus “had compassion for the crowds”. Spend some time being a part of the crowds. How do you experience Jesus’ compassion here? Now listen once more to the passage. What is it saying to you this time? Finally, just look back on this time of prayer, and see if you can gather all your thoughts and feelings into a prayer to God. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.