June 14, 2026

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.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Matt 9:36-38

Corpus Christi Mission Statement
“Loving God, Loving Others, Making Disciples, Welcoming All into the Body of Christ.”

All Saints on the Hudson Mission Statement
“All Saints on the Hudson Parish is a family of faith rooted in Christ and open to all. We honor God, care for one another, and form disciples through prayer, the Sacraments, and joyful service that extends into our neighborhoods and the wider community.”

The Gospel passage this week is at a turning point of Jesus’ own mission on earth.  Midway through Matthew’s account, Jesus summons his twelve disciples, not yet referred to as Apostles in this Gospel, and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. In what appears to be a ‘trial run’ for each of them, Jesus sends them out on a mission to try their own hand after being instructed and inspired by the One with whom they have entrusted to His hands.

Last week, I shared two separate reflections because of significant moments taking place in each of our parish communities. At All Saints on the Hudson, having most recently celebrated Confirmation with Bishop Mark O'Connell, I wanted to highlight a special gathering focused on youth ministry and multi-generational faith formation as we continue discerning how best to pass on the faith to future generations. At Corpus Christi, we were celebrating the Feast Day of the parish, welcoming Bishop Mark and joining in thanks for the countless people whose faith, sacrifice, and dedication have shaped our community through the decades.

It seemed to me that each occasion deserved its own focused attention. This week, however, I find myself struck of how naturally I feel like drawing us together again.  The Gospel this week is about a preliminary mission that was given to twelve disciples who are still in the beginning stages of understanding their call to ministry.  They are just learning to work together, especially outside the easy access to the Master whom they have been following like students learning something new.

As students, they are not finished learning.  The Paschal Mystery is still before them which will prove to be important for their true understanding of the mission.  They have not witnessed the suffering and death of Jesus, nor Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven.  They have not yet been gifted by the Pentecost event which will bestow on them everything they need to truly follow the Master’s instructions.   In the Gospel this week, they are, like we are now, still apprentices.

I found myself thinking about student teachers standing before a classroom for the first time, or student nurses caring for patients under the guidance of experienced mentors. They are entrusted with real responsibility, yet they continue learning through the experience itself.  Perhaps the disciples then and now have more in common than we sometimes appreciate.

Like the disciples who are sent out with a mission in mind, both All Saints on the Hudson and Corpus Christi have focused their efforts to be followers of Christ with their own mission statement.  These are meant to be guiding messages intended to shape who we are and who we hope to become as disciples of Jesus Christ. Over the past year, I have watched the process unfold in both communities. At times there were passionate discussions and differing opinions as people reflected on their hopes, concerns, and dreams for the future. As someone uniquely blessed to be part of the process and observe these conversations, I was struck not so much by the differences between our parishes as by the similarities.

Both communities recognized a need to focus on the heart of the Gospel and the mission Christ has entrusted to His Church. Both desired to become more intentional about forming disciples, welcoming others, and sharing the faith with future generations. At the same time, each mission statement reflects a unique story.

Corpus Christi, while diverse in many ways, shares a common institutional history developed over eighty years. Generations have worshipped, celebrated, mourned, and grown together under the same parish identity. It is natural that its mission statement emphasizes loving God, loving others, making disciples, and welcoming all into the Body of Christ.

All Saints on the Hudson has a different story. It was formed from communities with rich histories of their own. For many years those parishes were defined not only by what they shared, but also by what made them unique and distinct. As we continue growing together, the image of a family of faith rooted in Christ and open to all becomes especially important. It reminds us that while we honor the histories that shaped us, we are also discovering the common roots that unite us and provide fertile ground for future growth.

The Twelve whom Jesus sent out were not identical. They came from different backgrounds, possessed different personalities, and surely saw the world through different lenses. Jesus united them in a common mission. Their differences did not disappear, but they learned to see themselves as part of something larger than themselves.  We can learn a great deal from those who have walked before us as followers of Corpus Christi.

Whether we worship at Corpus Christi or All Saints on the Hudson, or whether we have been here for generations or arrived only recently, we remember what we have told to those recently confirmed over and over again. We never truly graduate. The Lord continues to teach us through prayer, the Sacraments, service, successes, mistakes, challenges, and blessings. He sends us out, calls us back, and sends us out again.

As we continue moving forward together, may we never lose sight of the mission entrusted to us. May we continue loving God, loving others, making disciples, and welcoming all. May we remain a family of faith rooted in Christ and open to all. And may we always remember that, wherever we find ourselves on the journey, we are still learning from the Master who continues to call, teach, and send us.

Let us always be patient with each other as well.  Fortunately, the Divine Teacher tends to grade us on a curve.  I thank God for that and I thank God for all of you!