Working for the harvest master

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time
July 6, 2010
Today's Readings:
Hos 8:4-7, 11-13
Ps 115:3-10
Matt 9:32-38
http://www.usccb.org/nab/070610.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_07_06.mp3
Working for the harvest master
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples to "ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest". Two thousand years ago, these disciples prayed for YOU. That's right! Because you're a Christian, Jesus has chosen you to bring into the Church those whom the Holy Spirit has been seeding, growing, and preparing for conversion.
We're all sent into the fields to gather those who want a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, and we're all called upon by God to show them the value of belonging to the community of the Church.
How do we do this? In countless opportunities: We can provide holy guidance during their trials. We can help them heal from the wounds of their hearts. We can feed them with good nourishment for their minds and their souls. By virtue of our baptisms, we're already in the harvesting field; the plot of land to which God has particularly assigned to you is where you live, work, play, and worship.
The harvest is plentiful, but some of the crop is rotting because no one's reaching out to them, no one's showing them what Jesus is really like, no one's taking the time to find out about their needs and interests, which – if empowered by opportunity and invitation – could bring them into active, full participation in the parish community.
Never believe that you're too young or too old. Timothy was a mere youth when Paul ordained him to shepherd a parish. Moses was 80 when God sent him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.
Never believe that you're not educated enough or skilled or talented enough. God has already given you exactly what you need to do some sort of work in evangelization right now.
Never get distracted by being too busy or setting your own agenda. Which master are you serving? If it's not God, it's time to rearrange your priorities. If you let God guide you in what to do and what not to do, you'll always have the perfect amount of time to do his work.
If you're willing to become a better laborer in God's harvest, use this oath of commitment:
"As a servant of God, I commit myself to serve him diligently and ably, using my talents and skills to the utmost, according to the work that needs to be done. I commit myself to work with my co-laborers in unity, mutual support and cooperation, honesty and integrity, flexibility, and diligence. I commit myself to discerning God's will through daily prayer, with the help of those in authority over me and the affirmation of Christian community. Lord Jesus, help me to love everyone as You love everyone, and help me to serve in that spirit of love. I pray this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!"
To help you discern what your special area of ministry is – what God is calling YOU to do – use the Good News WordBytes on "The Master Needs You" at http://wordbytes.org/ministry/discern/ or download the e-book "Knowing God's Will and Doing it Well" published by Catholic Digital Resources: http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/GodsWill.htm
If you're a pastor or other leader of those who serve in Catholic ministries, you can inspire this kind of diligent commitment using the leaflet "The 4 Stages of Apostleship" available from http://catholicdr.com/calendar/October/apostleship.htm, or the Commissioning Rite of the PowerPoint seminar on "Mission of the Redeemer" available at http://catholicdr.com/RCIA/mystagogy/mission/
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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