During the time of Jesus, there were a lot of people who were sick, oppressed and uneducated. Jesus cured every disease, fought against oppression and worked hard as an itinerant teacher. People followed Him everywhere and when He saw them He was moved with pity for they were troubled and abandoned.
As a being in human form, Jesus couldn’t do all the hard work. That is why He chose twelve apostles, empowered them and sent them as labourers for the harvest. Yet the harvest is great. More labourers are needed.
Fast forward to the modern age: Although observers say great progress has been achieved everywhere millions of people are still wanting for adequate health care – oppression is still experienced – and throngs of them are yet to be educated and evangelized. Who will be sent to cure them? Who will fight for them? Who will educate them and teach them about the Kingdom of God? Today, Jesus is bidding us to pray for more of them.
In our own time, to follow Jesus means basically to imitate Him in His words and deeds. If we are not moved with pity upon those multitudes who continue to suffer hunger and all kinds of diseases, then what really move us? Yes, Jesus is asking for prayers that God may send more labourers but then, whom will He send?
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be sent. We are called to be compassionate, that is to have the strong urge to respond to the needs of others with love and selflessness. We are called to make ourselves available to be the instruments of God’s healing power and to be His mouthpieces to deliver the message of His kingdom everywhere and share God’s love.
When I see a heart, the first thing I think of is love.
We think and talk a lot about love, don’t we? We often say things such as, “I love ice cream” or “I love to play baseball.” We also say to our parents or special friends, “I love you.”
A group of professionals asked some children from age four to eight, “What does love mean?” Here are some of the answers the children gave.
“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”
“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it every day.”
“Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken.”
“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”
“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”
If you were to asked what love is, what would your answer be?
I think if we really want to know what love is, the best place to find the answer is in the Bible. God not only told us what love is, he showed us.
The Bible says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending Jesus to die for us, even though we were sinful.” Wow! That’s real love! God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us even though we did not deserve it.
In this world that God has made that is what Fathers and Mothers are supposed to be about––– the domestic church! They are supposed to be ones who turn to God and by keeping the word of God in their hearts and in their actions – provide what their children – and what our world needs.
And many of us have had such godly parents – we have had such parents, Godly people who not only teach the way of the Lord to their children, but who live it out as well – with joy and with wisdom – with humility and with strength and so raise up after them a generation whose delight is in the Lord, and whose ways are God’s ways. Praise God for them!
But, many others in our world have not had such fathers or mothers – and we need them, our world needs them if we are to be whole.
We who are gathered here today in Christ’s name are called to help answer that need.
“The harvest is plentiful” says Jesus as he looks upon the lost ones all around him, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” And then he sends out his followers – and gives them the power they need to do the work that needs doing – the power and authority that they need to help bring salvation.
Each of us here today is called by God to be a healer – first within our own family – among our sons and daughters – our wives and husbands – our cousins and nephews and nieces – and, of course, among our brothers and sisters – our fellow believers
You know that list of answers that children gave to the question, “What is love?”
Well, here is one more:
“God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn’t. That’s love.” I think that really says it all.
Dear Father, we thank you for loving us even when we did not deserve it. Help us to love others in the same way. Amen.
-Dcn. Terry Murphy