At the end of Matthew 9, Jesus saw the crowds around Him and had compassion on them “because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36). It’s this compassion that led Him to encourage His disciples to ask God to send more workers to share the Good News. In the very next chapter, Jesus sent His disciples as those workers. But He doesn’t send them in their strength. He gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. We, too, have been sent by Jesus with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Like the disciples, we must pray before we begin this work.