Many of us have led sinful lives such that we could not praise and worship the Lord our God. We could not hear His voice or be at peace with anything spiritual. In His mercy and love He came looking for us and by His grace we were set free! We began singing His praises as we basked in His love, peace and joy.
Why is the harvest rich but the labourers few today? Well many of us whose lives have been enriched by Him, do not see it as our duty as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ to labour in love for the rest of our brethren. Not experienced enough, not knowledgeable enough or simply not enough time are the excuses we give. When it is He our Lord Himself who qualifies us and provides all that we need for our mission of love. All we have to do is to respond with a resounding Yes Lord send me!
Lord Jesus here I am to do Your Will. Amen
First reading
Hosea 8:4-7,11-13 ·
They have sown the wind; they will reap the whirlwindThus says the Lord:They have set up kings, but not with my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols, which are doomed to destruction.
I spurn your calf, Samaria, my anger blazes against it.
(How long will it be before they purge themselves of this, the sons of Israel?)
A workman made the thing, this cannot be God!
Yes, the calf of Samaria shall go up in flames. They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind; their wheat will yield no ear,
the ear will yield no flour, or, if it does, foreigners will swallow it.Ephraim has built altar after altar, they have only served him as occasion for sin.
Were I to write out the thousand precepts of my Law for him, they would be paid no more attention than those of a stranger.
They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice!
They love meat; right, let them eat it! The Lord takes no pleasure in these.
He is now going to remember their iniquity
and punish their sins; they will have to go back to Egypt.
Gospel
Matthew 9:32-37
The harvest is rich but the labourers are fewA man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
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