Harvest is Plentiful

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. ‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’ The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ Luke 10:1-17

We live in an era where very few people really know what it takes to grow their own food, let alone labor daily in the fields. Most of us purchase food wrapped in plastic and many have it delivered to their front door. We are often at such a distance from the work of our sustenance, we have no idea what labor goes into our food. Jesus, sending the seventy out, is aware that the world may not receive them with open arms and that they would be toiling without much support. Being a disciple and our ministries are often still like this, and many folks want their faith delivered to their door and do not want to participate nor work alongside others. We are invited today to be those out in the fields, laboring for the love of Christ, understanding it was a struggle then, and is a struggle now.

Gracious Creator, source of all goodness

you send snow, rain and sunlight to all

making the crops grow and feeding us

you always provide for all of our needs.

We on the other hand do not want to work

we want our food delivered, an easy life

when the people on the street are starving

we refuse to share our wealth or our time.

Help us be like the seventy who went out

despite having nothing gained everything

make us those who trust you so completely

that your love is made real in the world today. Amen.