“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Mt 9:37-38)
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore we do not lose heart. (2 Cor 4:8-9)
General Reflections:
The word ‘harvest’ is used three times in Mt 9:37-38 and the act of harvesting in this Gospel imply a sense of urgency. The time is just right and the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. St Mathew pointed to His disciples that the “harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”. He urged them to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.”
We too are reminded that ‘harvesting’ for the Kingdom of God is an urgent matter for us to do, that the time is right and the Kingdom of God is near at hand. Because it is urgent, we should not waste any time. Because it is urgent and the time is right, we need to bring more workers into the harvest field.
We can be hard pressed in harvesting and looking for more workers, but we cannot be crushed; perplexed, but not despair; persecuted, but are not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore we do not lose heart as we focus on the Lord of the harvest and the fruit of our hard work. Our reward is out of this world!
Personal Reflections:
Do you firmly believe that ‘harvesting’ for the Kingdom of God is an urgent matter for you to do, therefore you should not waste any time?
Or do you leave the harvesting for another day, exposing the rich harvest to the attacks of ‘birds’ or other ‘animals’.
Do you actively look for more workers in the Vineyard of the Lord? Do you actively look for more workers (leaders) in our community to do the ‘harvesting’ for the Lord with you?
Do you firmly believe that although you can be hard pressed in harvesting and looking for more workers, you will not be crushed; perplexed, but you will not despair; persecuted, but you will not be abandoned; struck down, but you will not be destroyed? Or do you rely on your own knowledge and abilities and in the process lose heart easily?
Do you focus on the Lord of the harvest and the fruit of your hard work? Or do you focus on yourself?
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