June 14, 2026
Matthew 9:35–10:8
Theme: The Kingdom of God Is Near
This morning the gospel of St. Matthew tells us that Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. Everywhere Jesus went, people encountered hope, mercy, and restoration. And then Matthew gives us a glimpse of Jesus’s mission “He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
This compassion Matthew reminds us, is a deep, level movement of God’s love toward God’s children. It is the compassion that sees us, knows us, and refuses to leave us where we are.
And into this moment, Jesus turns to His disciples and says: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” v.37. In other words: the kingdom of God is near, but it needs workers who will carry it forward. It needs the willing hearts. What does Matthew mean when he says that, “the Kingdom of God is near?” “Near” means God’s reign is already arriving and Matthew uses the phrase to signal that in Jesus: God’s authority is becoming visible. God’s healing power is touching real lives. God’s mercy is overturning broken systems. God’s justice is beginning to take root. It means that it’s not a distant kingdom. Not a future-only kingdom. Not a symbolic kingdom. It means that it’s God’s active rule entering human history. This is why Jesus heals, restores, forgives, and liberates — these are signs that the kingdom is already breaking in the world.
These words of Matthew about the kingdom of God reminds us of Jesus’ “kingdom manifesto” in Luke 4:18-19, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me, to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Let us look at the phrase “the Kingdom of God is God Near” in three ways
1. The Kingdom of God Is Near in Compassion
Jesus begins by seeing the people. He notices their burdens, their fears, the hunger. What does this tell us? That the kingdom of God is not first about power or position -it is about compassion that moves toward the broken and the vulnerable. When Jesus sends the disciples out, He is essentially saying: “Go and let them know that God has not forgotten them.” This morning be assured that every act of compassion you do – every prayer, every visit, every word of encouragement, becomes a sign that the kingdom of God is near.
2. The Kingdom of God Is Near in Calling
Jesus does not send the disciples because they are perfect. He sends them because they are willing. He gives them authority not to dominate, but to heal, to restore, to lift up. He sends them to proclaim one message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is not a future kingdom. It is a kingdom breaking into the present – through ordinary people who have faith in God.
My dear friends, our calling as a church is to be living signs that God’s reign is already touching the world and the planet earth.
3. The Kingdom of God Is Near in Action
Jesus sends the disciples with strong active verbs: Heal the sick, Raise the dead, Cleanse the lepers, Cast out demons. These words of Jesus teach that the kingdom is not passive. It is not theoretical. But it is something we do. It is something we embody. It is something we carry into the world.
Because where there is healing, the kingdom is near. Where there is forgiveness, the kingdom is near. Where there is justice, mercy, and reconciliation, the kingdom is near.
This morning Matthew reminds us that we are apart of the kindgom labarors. The mission is to each one. As we go into this week, I want to leave you with three strong words that summarize the mission Jesus gives us today SGA- See, Go, Act.
1. See: See people the way Jesus sees them with compassion, not judgment.
2. Go: Step into your calling. The kingdom needs laborers, not spectators.
3. Act: Let your faith take shape in healing, kindness, and service to each other.
We will carry out God’s mission successfully as laborers of Christ rooted in their baptismal covenant when we desire to know more about Jesus and His kingdom.