Is 66:10-14c; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
“The harvest is rich but the laborers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to the harvest.” When Jesus said these words, he was aware that his time on earth was nearing its end. He knew that his followers would have to continue the work he has begun. When he said “The harvest is rich”, the Lord was referring not only to people of Palestine in his time but to people of all times and places. He wanted to bring all of humankind to the Heavenly Father. Hence, he wished to have more laborers who will carry on the work of harvesting people for the kingdom. Jesus asked his disciples to pray for more laborers because he realized that too few individuals would be willing to work for God.
Until now, the harvest is abundant. There remain countless people who have yet to hear or know about Jesus and the good news of God’s infinite love and mercy. We need to continue praying for more laborers because there are not many who carry out the salvific work of Christ.
The synoptic gospels have a record of the mission of the twelve apostles (Mt 10:2-14; Mk 6:7-12; Lk 9:1-6), but only the gospel of Luke narrated the mission-sending of the Seventy (other texts say there were Seventy-two). Reginald Fuller explains that “the mission of the Twelve represents the Church’s mission to Israel (twelve tribes); and the mission of the Seventy, its mission to the nations of the world (which according to Jewish tradition, numbered seventy or seventy-two).”
People are used to thinking that the ministerial work of Christ has been entrusted to priests and religious only. Indeed, priests and religious have a special calling to serve God’s people, but lay people are called to the ministry of service as well. The Vatican document Apostolicam Actuositatem (On the Apostolate of the Laity) states clearly that “incorporated into Christ’s Mystical Body through baptism and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit through confirmation, the laity are assigned to the apostolate by the Lord himself” (n. 3). Jesus himself wills that every disciple should have an active part in the building up of the kingdom of God.
We, who have been baptized in Christ, are now the seventy disciples tasked by Jesus to deliver the gospel to every corners of the world. How are we going to do this? The same Vatican document explains: “Laymen have countless opportunities for exercising the apostolate of evangelization and sanctification. The very witness of a Christian life, and good works done in a supernatural spirit, are effective in drawing men to the faith and to God” (AA, n. 6). We, therefore, can contribute to the salvific mission of Christ by practicing the values of the gospel in our families, schools, places of work, or in marketplaces. Values such as integrity, fairness, diligence, generosity, love, understanding and forgiveness would surely attract people to the Church and to God.
Jesus tells his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth . . . you are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14). By this he wanted to tell us that our presence in society should make a big difference. We are not only parents, teachers, businessmen, managers, workers, or students. Rather, we are called to become Christian parents, Christian teachers, Christian businessmen, Christian managers, Christian workers, or Christian students. By being true to our name, we expect the world to become a much better place to live in. Andrew Long said it beautifully: “The main business of a Christian soul is to go through the world turning its water into wine.”
Daily witnessing of gospel values is supremely important, but it is not enough. There also is the task of disciples to proclaim boldly in “words” the message of Jesus to the world. A genuine follower “looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to the faithful with a view to instructing, strengthening, and encouraging them to a more fervent life” (AA, no. 6). The proclamation of the Word is a task that we, Catholics, often take for granted. Sometimes, we can’t help but marvel at how members of other Christian denominations preach the Word of God from one household to another with great courage and enthusiasm.
Jesus instructed the disciples about the way they should conduct themselves in doing their mission. “Carry no purse, no haversack, and no sandals.” In other words, they have to travel light and not be bothered by unnecessary baggage. The Lord is telling us through the seventy missionaries that we need to put our trust in God and in the generosity of people, not in personal belongings. Material things are important in life; we need them to live and to be happy. We also can utilize them to serve the needs of one another. Often, however, the things we enjoy possessing would hinder us from giving ourselves totally to God. Hence, the gospel inspires us not to be so attached to material wealth or to live simply so that we can serve God’s people with greater freedom and dedication.
When the disciples came back from their missionary trips, they reported with gladness their achievements to the Lord saying, “Even the devils submit to us when we use your name!” Jesus recognized their accomplishments, but he led them to see the ultimate purpose of all missionary endeavors: “Do not rejoice because the spirits submit to you: rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.” All successes and triumphs in life have no use if they would not lead us to the kingdom of God. To be with God is the thing that matters most in the end.
There is a story of a missionary and his son who returned from overseas aboard a ship that was also carrying a famous movie star. When the ship pulled into New York, huge crowds awaited the movie star but there was no one to greet the missionary and his son. “Papa,” said the boy, “isn’t it sad that there is no one here to welcome us home?” “No,” said the Father, “for this is not our home.”
(The story is from an unknown author)
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