The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. – Matthew 9:37

       I was with a group of young women having a weekend search-in at the Camillian Sisters’ formation house in Antipolo. I was there because after my Holy Land pilgrimage, I felt I wanted to give my whole life to God.

       At the end of the two-day retreat, we had varying realizations. I realized I didn’t have an authentic call to the religious life. I sat on the grass and I mused about how I would proceed with my life. At that point, I made a solemn promise to God: that even if He didn’t call me to the religious life, I will help others find their vocation.

       In early 2000, I wrote for Rogate Ergo, the vocations promotion magazine of the Rogationist Fathers in the Philippines. For a semester, I taught human development to seminarians and sisters. For a while, I gave support to a seminarian in a seminary within our village.

       Now that I am back as a contributing writer for Rogate Ergo Asia, I remember that promise I made a long time ago.

       It’s not yet finished — for the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)

Reflection: In what ways can you help in harvesting people for God’s Kingdom?

Send me, Lord, where the harvest is.

St. Gregory Grassi and Companions, pray for us.

Anything that takes us away from our love and service of God can be considered an idol. For Hosea, all idols are ultimately shaped upon the image of the calf involved in the apostasy of the people at the foot of Mount Sinai. This image of sin is very powerful as it helps reinforce the truth that the very nature of sin leads us away from God into the power of someone or something else.

4 Thus says the Lord: They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. 5 Cast away your calf, O Samaria! My wrath is kindled against them; how long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? 6 The work of an artisan no god at all, destined for the flames — such is the calf of Samaria! 7 When they sow the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind; the stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; even if it could, strangers would swallow it. 11 When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. 12 Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger’s. 13 Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the Lord is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

R: The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.

3 Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. (R) 5 They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; 6 they have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not. (R) 7 They have hands but feel not; they have feet but walk not; 8 their makers shall be like them, everyone that trusts in them. (R)

The Church is always looking for more people willing to serve in Her mission. The harvest is indeed bountiful but it cannot happen unless we can find enough laborers who will persevere through the struggles of ministry to draw people into the fold of baptism and discipleship. It is not easy to work in the Church. It is very rewarding especially when we see people deepen their faith and love for God and neighbor. It is worth the effort to help in this task.

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.

32 A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, 33 and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” 35 Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; 38 so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

think:  Serving in the Church is very rewarding especially when we see people deepen their faith and love for God and neighbor.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 16-18

BE DISCERNING JUST AS JESUS WAS

In today’s First Reading from the prophet Hosea, there seems to be an irony underlying the idolatry of Israel which the prophet strongly condemns. This is when Ephraim “made many altars to expiate sin,” which, however, “became occasions of sin.” How did that happen? Hosea did not condemn the altars as such, but the lack of discernment of the people who used them. Similarly, in the Gospel, the Pharisees’ negative reaction to Jesus’ healing of the mute demoniac suggests a hasty, misplaced judgment — that of wrongly interpreting Jesus’ action and immediately putting a biased view against it.

       How easy is it for us as well to mistake God’s ways in our lives. How readily do we harbor a tampo (ill will or grudge) against Him! If only we can be more discerning and more discreet, in our prayer to Him.

      In the latter part of the Gospel, Jesus commands us to “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (the famous “rogate ergo” for more vocations). Given the sad reality of the dearth of vocations in the Church, especially vocations to the priestly and religious life, we have to heed and obey Christ’s directive. How often have we done this?

       We probably think that all is well anyway, or we indifferently refuse to see and to be involved. But Jesus’ own assessment of the situation should shake us up and make us see the not-so-pleasant truth. Upon the healing of the demoniac, the crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Jesus Himself didn’t simply gloss over the misery of crowds of sick people. In fact, He was “moved with pity for them for they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” That urged Him to make the prayer-command to His disciples.

       If only we can be compassionate and sensitive just as Jesus was. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: How sensitive are you to the needs of the people around you, particularly those in your family, your workplace, your community?

Grant me a compassionate heart, Lord, that can listen well to the unspoken pleas for help from the people around me.