The Word God Spells

Luke 10: 1-12
Neh 8:1-4.5-6.7-12 / Ps 19:8-11

The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; so you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest.
(Luke 10:2)

We must be bold heralds willing
To share the Good News of the Lord;
We are all called to bring healing
To where men hunger for His Word.

Jesus appointed 72 other disciples, and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He himself was about to come. He told them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few; so you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ If a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Reflection

Today’s Gospel reading of Luke was what moved St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we celebrate today to fall in love with “Lady Poverty” in February of 1208, while he was hearing Mass in the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels. The founder of the Franciscan Order then wrote the rule of their order “to possess neither gold nor silver, nor scrip for their journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff, and that they were to exhort sinners to repentance and announce the Kingdom of God.”

The ministry of proclaiming the Good News was never meant only for saints like St. Francis. This vital aspect of our Brotherhood’s culture, which takes on more meaning in this month of mission, urges all members to prepare their life testimony to be shared in breakfast meetings of the BCBP where one or a couple is invited. In this way we imitate all saints of Christ who were sent to preach the hope of salvation. Whenever we share our spiritual transformation during a breakfast, it is like preparing our listeners for Jesus' arrival in their lives. The task is not an easy one, and requires fervent prayers that our sharing may touch other brothers and sisters to become “workers” themselves in the Lord’s vineyard.

This coming Saturday, Ollie and I have been invited to share our life testimony in our outreach’s breakfast meeting in Gen. Santos city, a two-hour trip from Davao. We thank the Lord, our God for this blessed opportunity. God is called the Lord of the harvest because He is the one who sends out workers. He supplies all the speakers in the various chapters and outreaches of BCBP all over the country. Members of our chapter regularly travel by pairs to other cities like Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Valencia, Tagum, Panabo, Digos, Marbel, Kidapawan, Butuan, Iligan and Surigao to share God’s Word. Many have been spiritually healed through this unique culture of our brotherhood.

Help us, Father God to travel light in spreading the Good News of Your kingdom, not to be weighed down by temporal concerns, and to take courage in Your protection even as we are sent forth like lambs among ravenous wolves. Bless our mission, that those who hear Your message may also become workers in Your vineyard. Amen.