Sunday June 18th, 2017 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 9:35-10:8
Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." (verse 37)
In 2011, I spent the summer serving at Christ the King Lutheran Chapel near Lake Huron. I loved the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables available in Southern Ontario, but the longer growing season took some getting used to.
Soon after I arrived, my congregation suggested I take an afternoon off to go strawberry picking. I made a mental note to do so-in August. After a lifetime of picking berries in Saskatchewan, I had no idea that strawberries in Ontario are ripe at the beginning of June.
The apostles were common ordinary people, skilled in fishing or collecting taxes. They really were labourers. They may not have felt ready to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. “Are you sure, Lord? You want me to do what? Right now?”
When the strawberries are ripe-ready or not-it’s harvest time. We might not feel ready, qualified or even worthy to share the gospel with those around us, but just like the disciples, we do not labour alone. The power of Christ who called us by name and sent us out is at work in and through us.
Lord of the harvest, make us ripe and ready for God to rule in our lives. Amen. — KLS
Contributed by Harvest Time
In 2011, I spent the summer serving at Christ the King Lutheran Chapel near Lake Huron. I loved the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables available in Southern Ontario, but the longer growing season took some getting used to.
Soon after I arrived, my congregation suggested I take an afternoon off to go strawberry picking. I made a mental note to do so-in August. After a lifetime of picking berries in Saskatchewan, I had no idea that strawberries in Ontario are ripe at the beginning of June.
The apostles were common ordinary people, skilled in fishing or collecting taxes. They really were labourers. They may not have felt ready to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. "Are you sure, Lord? You want me to do what? Right now?"
When the strawberries are ripe-ready or not-it's harvest time. We might not feel ready, qualified or even worthy to share the gospel with those around us, but just like the disciples, we do not labour alone. The power of Christ who called us by name and sent us out is at work in and through us.
