REFLECTIONS TODAY
The life of the Israelites, like most of the people, was bound to the cycle of the seasons. Harvest time was the time to rejoice and to make pilgrimage to God in Jerusalem to thank him for his providence.
The harvest often symbolizes God’s last judgment (Is 9:2-3; Hos 6:11). Those who work at the harvest are the angels who gather men and women for condemnation or salvation. Jesus also uses this imagery in the parable of the Weeds and the Wheat where the harvesters first collect the weeds for burning and then gather the wheat into the barn (Mt 13:30). But here, the harvest symbolizes the beginnings.
The disciples are sent not to gather people for judgment but to proclaim the name of Jesus. The angelic harvest at the end of the age will be started by the work of men and women. Some will sow the seed and others will reap, but there is joy and reward for both—as when people rejoice at harvest time.
Jesus sends the Twelve disciples out of pity for the crowd who are troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd. Harvesting and shepherding are two images used by Jesus to speak of “gathering.” We are both harvesters who work in the Lord’s field and shepherds in his flock. Do we help in gathering people for the Kingdom of heaven?
Responsorial psalm • Ps 147
“Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.”
Gospel • Matthew
9:35—10:1, 5a, 6-8
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.