"The harvest is abundant but laborers are few . . ."
Luke 10: 1012, 17-20
When we travel, especially if it is by plane these days, we
want to travel as smoothly and safely as possible. Our luggage may be far more minimal than in
the past, for example. Still, I recall
on a pilgrimage to France about ten years ago, one of our pilgrims was a dear
religious sister. She had always dreamed
of traveling to France and Lourdes in particular since her name was Sr.
Bernadette. Now, her dream had finally come true.
When we met, she was in a beautiful modified black and white
habit, veil and all. I naturally thought
to myself that her luggage would be minimal.
However, when we met at the airport, we all took a double take. She was hauling two large suitcases along
with a carry on and we all wondered, what does she have in there? She was the type who would wear her habit
pretty much all the time and indeed she did.
In fact, she was never NOT in her religious habit no matter where we
went including on the plane of course.
So, what was in those bags?
She stated a second habit and warm coats not knowing what the
weather would be like – it was mid-April not mid-January – and personal
items. Well, poor Sister, with some
assistance from the men, she trekked with the group through thick and thin, on
and off planes, busses and trains and through security. Maybe some helpful advice about traveling
light would have been important for her but it was her first trip overseas and
indeed she came prepared for anything. So too, our Gospel this Sunday continues
even more specific advice about our “travel plans” as we walk the road of
discipleship but it’s about less rather than more
For the last two Sunday's we have heard about carrying our
daily cross (Lk 9: 18-24), following
Jesus without hesitation when he calls in the many ways we hear God's
invitation (Lk 9: 51-62) and this weekend about the urgency to move out and
make the good news of Jesus known (Lk 10: 1-9). But, in order to follow him, we
must be single focused and in the case of those sent out by the Lord, travel
lightly, no extra baggage to weigh you down. . Still wouldn’t it be wise for us
to prepare for the unexpected; to bring along some provisions and to make extra
copies of important documents, etc. . or
isn’t this about something more than just a suitcase?
The image of a harvest is mentioned by Jesus in the Gospel; an
“abundant” harvest in search of more laborers to gather in the result of good
growth. In other words, this is God’s
harvest we are reaping; it is his work we gather, not ours, and we are called
to be those who labor for his cause in the fields. It is quite daunting on the
level of personal conversion. What Jesus
asks of us are great challenges in a world that often speaks so persuasively
against sacrifice, simplicity of life, forgiveness, peace, reconciliation, and
facing challenges even at the price of personal danger and threats. We are
constantly inundated with advice about planning for the future as if everything
depends on us alone.
So, Jesus' requirements in the Gospel this Sunday is far more
about the message and mission we carry everywhere we go. It is about whose name
we bear: Christian. The mission is about who we proclaim to follow – Jesus
Christ and his Church. Let nothing hold
you back; travel light. Shuck off whatever is causing you to resist sharing the
good news of the Gospel: the endless pursuit of wealth and material things,
human attachments, lack of a spiritual life, a lazy practice of the faith,
personal sin, an unforgiving attitude, prejudice, our own fear and doubt, or
whatever may weigh us down and prevents the journey we all walk as followers of
Christ.
All of this is extra baggage; it resists the conversion to live
by Gospel values. If life seems heavy
and complicated it may often be of our own making. How will the world be
changed if Catholic/Christians are no different than others around them? Why should it change if we become invisible
and compromised?
In the case of our discipleship on mission, the 72 which Jesus
sent out are challenged to rely totally on God's providence: "Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals and
greet no one along the way . . ."
How reliant am I on God for all that I need? We believe that all we have is gift, so am I
thankful for that gift? Do I trust him as I walk in his ways? Sure, we take
responsibility for our lives but in the larger picture, it all depends on him.
Am I so filled with fear, anxious, because I do not really trust what God
promises? After all, he honestly warns his disciples today: "I am sending you like lambs among
wolves."
Yet, there is urgency about sharing the good news. We do so
through the right balance of things in our life: faith and God first, all else
is second to that regardless of an alternative message that preaches contrary
values. This seems to be the gist of Jesus' travel advice.
The prophet Isaiah in our first reading offers us a comforting
image that God will always care for us.
“Oh, that you may suck fully of
the milk of her comfort . . . As
nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; as a
mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” Although there are
tragic cases of mothers who harm their children, Isaiah’s image of a child in
the safe arms of its mother could not be more reassuring. God is both an ideal father and mother to us.
Be not afraid!
Still, on this Independence Day weekend, we are rightly
concerned about our safety. Attacks seem to come from all parts of the world
that threaten our desire to live as a free and safe people. The right to live in peace, to freely express
our thoughts, hopes and dreams, to freely worship God according to our faith
and to be productive citizens of this country is very much on our mind as we
celebrate our Independence as a Nation.
Maybe Isaiah’s reassurance of God’s providence and Jesus’ call
to trust on this Sunday and in this time can reinforce our faith, rather than
threaten it. We need to do our part
absolutely but likewise turn to God for protection in prayer. The journey we walk today may seem to be more
precarious yet the good news of God’s love and mercy is our message. On that we can rely for all things. Peace be with you!
Open our eyes
to the needs of our brothers and sisters;
inspire in us words and actions
to comfort those who labor and are burdened
Make us serve them truly;
after the example of Christ. . .
And may your Church stand as a living witness
to truth and freedom,
to peace and justice . . .
(From Eucharistic Prayer IV
Prayer for Masses for various needs)
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