The first-ever Feast Conference in North Luzon was a breakthrough, especially for our missionary efforts in this part of the country. Modestly, we expected 1,000 people.

We were in a retreat four days before the event and ticket sales were only 600. We asked people to intercede and “ask the Master of the harvest to send out laborers” for His conference. 

The night before the event, 950 tickets were sold. But on the event day, 1,200 people gathered to celebrate God’s presence.

Many times, we worry about the size of the crowd that will attend a missionary event. We spend sleepless nights worrying if we have enough servants and other details of the gathering. We scour our contacts list and send invites, hoping they will respond. We spend our energies on social media to attract people to our event.

We forget that this is God’s harvest. In our anxiety, we miss out on His promise that He will send laborers if we only ask. Are you worried? Ask the Harvest Master Who keeps His promises. 

Boggs Burbos (boggsburbos@yahoo.com) 

reflect

After having done all you can, don’t forget to pray to the Lord to send laborers to His harvest.

Father, forgive me for the times I failed to call You in my mission work. Remind me always that this is Your harvest, and I am a servant. Send more laborers for this harvest.

Saint Nicholas, bishop, pray for us.

The Lord will provide for His people. There is no food shortage in the world, yet there are people starving every day. Why? The world’s goods are not distributed equally. Some countries experience superabundance and waste an enormous amount of food. Others have too little, so people starve. We have a responsibility to share with those who do not have. Let us eat simply so others will be able to simply eat.

¹⁹ Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; he will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. ²⁰ The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your teacher, ²¹ while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left. ²³ He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, and the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant. On that day your flock will be given pasture and the lamb will graze in spacious meadows; ²⁴ the oxen and the asses that till the ground will eat silage tossed to them with shovel and pitchfork. ²⁵ Upon every high mountain and lofty hill there will be streams of running water. On the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall, ²⁶ The light of the moon will be like that of the sun and the light of the sun will be seven times greater like the light of seven days. On the day the Lord binds up the wounds of his people, he will heal the bruises left by his blows.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.

¹ Praise the Lord, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious; it is fitting to praise him. ² The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers. (R) ³ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ⁴ He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. (R) ⁵ Great is our Lord and mighty in power: to his wisdom there is no limit. ⁶ The Lord sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5, 6-8

Jesus felt many emotions. The Gospel reminds us that He has “pity on the people” who feel lost and lack good shepherding and leadership. Let us remember that leading the Church is not an easy task. There are immense challenges and obstacles to overcome. Instead of focusing on the obstacles, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will show us the way to conquer them and live in the victory of the cross of Jesus. 

Gospel Acclamation

The Lord is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; he it is who will save us.

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.” ^10:1 Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. ⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, ⁶ “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read PROVERBS 5 - 8 today.

The word “apostle” means “one who is sent out.” The Twelve Apostles went forth from the presence of Christ to bear with them the word and the works of Christ. Jesus offers us works to do, but we can only do His works when we live in His presence. We are called to bring the message of Christ’s love, but we cannot do so unless we first receive it in His presence.

Martin Buber tells the story about a rabbi’s disciple who begged his master to teach him how to prepare his soul for the service of God. The rabbi told him to go to Rabbi Abraham, who, at that time, was still an innkeeper. The disciple did as instructed and lived in the inn for several weeks without observing any vestige of holiness in the innkeeper. From morning till night, the innkeeper devoted himself to the affairs of his business. The disciple finally asked the innkeeper what he did all day. The latter said, “My most important occupation is to clean the dishes properly so that not the slightest trace of food is left, and to clean and dry the pots and pans so that they do not rust.” When the disciple returned home and reported to the rabbi what he had seen and heard, the rabbi said to him, “Now you know how to prepare your soul for the service of God.” 

The way to reach God is by doing everything wholeheartedly and genuinely. We don’t need to be great to become servants of the Lord; we just need to be available to Him. We live in His presence and allow Him to transform us. When we become aware that everything is full of God’s holiness, we can bring His love wherever we are and do everything wholeheartedly and genuinely. To become someone sent by the Lord means to give witness to His love, word, and works. 

Fr. Joel Jason

Reflection question

Meditate on these words of Saint Mother Teresa: “Just do with love what is natural; God will surely supply the supernatural.”

Here I am Lord, send me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________