“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’’ [Matthew 9:37-38]
Jesus went about all the cities and villages in Palestine because he had compassion for the people. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus then names his twelve disciples and sends them out into his harvest. Therefore, a disciple is one who is sent out. That is, a disciple is not coddled, because being sent out is not for the faint of heart! They were sent out into the cities and villages to proclaim the good news. Good news that had healing power to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the diseased, and cast out the demons. And the disciples were to do this without fanfare or payment. No charlatans or scammers allowed! We, too, as Christ’s disciples are sent out ones. So, what are we being sent out to do at this juncture in history? How are we to proclaim the good news? With what means? I suggest by the way in which we live and move and have our being in the world wherever we may be. We also need to be reflecting on this question as we do so, “Are we a healing presence for others as we share the good news?” So, what is Jesus specifically sending you out to do these days?
Prayer
Sending God, I admit it is more comfortable to stay at your feet and listen intently to your word. This being sent out is risky stuff. Yet, good news is hardly good news if it is not shared. Equip and send me, I pray. Help me to trust that you go before me as well as with me always. Amen.
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