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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few

Published Jul 10, 2023 04:06 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY


This is the last of three sections on discipleship (Mt 8–9), dealing with the universality of the call, its radical demands (8:18-22), and newness (9:9-17). Jesus addresses his disciples about the urgency of the need for workers. In speaking of the abundant harvest (v 37), he is referring to the people who are troubled and abandoned (v 36) and are waiting to hear God’s word. God’s people must be gathered and brought into the Kingdom, and Jesus urges his disciples to do something about it. The disciples’ response must not begin immediately with vigorous personal exertion to spread the good news of salvation, but with prayer. In prayer, they must ask the master of the harvest to make their missionary efforts bear fruits abundantly. Jesus emphasizes the importance of prayer before undertaking the task of spreading the Gospel.

Gospel • Matthew 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 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.” Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,”  Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).

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