The Need for Labourersto the Lord’s Harvest

 

Sin brings hard times and divine displeasure.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, July 9th, 2024
Texts: Hosea 8:4-7.11-13; Psalm 115:3-7; Matthew 9:32-38 

Today’s readings remind us that as sin increases so also the need for labourers to the Lord’s harvest. Today’s first reading tells us how iniquities multiplied among the people of God. They never sought the will of God again but doing their own will. In the words of the Lord: “Israel made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.” 

Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, speaks of the shortage of labourers to the Lord’s harvest. This is because there are many souls to save. We read, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the  Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’" 

Let us appreciate our leaders and pray for them

We see today the effects of shortage of labourers Lord’s harvest in the life of the people. The people were harassed and helpless. This helps us to appreciate the work of labourers to the Lord’s harvest. Let us appreciate our leaders and pray for them. We should not just pray for more labourers but also that they may do their work efficiently. Our prayer should also include good quality of labourers.

Our age, today, is in dire need of labourers to the Lord’s harvest. This is clear with the growing population and forgetfulness of God. There are more souls to save now. Jesus Christ has told us what to do; we are to pray. In His words: "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the  Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest." 

Sin brings hard times and divine displeasure

The first reading also reminds us that sin brings hard times and divine displeasure. We read, “The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, aliens would devour it. Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. ... Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.” The solution to this is to pray for more labourers to the Lord’s harvest. 

Prayer  

Lord God, we have grown used to sin and lost our ways; we beg you to send more labourers to Your harvest to teach us Your ways and bring us back to You. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke