The Harvest Is Rich: God Still Needs You

             

                                      Sunday Breakfast with the Word

                                11th Sunday Ordinary Time of the Year A.

                  Exodus 19:2-6, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36-10:8

 

The harvest is rich is like a reminder, an assurance and a sincere invitation from God to prioritize His mission. This is a wake up from Jesus that in God’ s vineyard, there is abundance.

 

It is a reminder that there are millions and thousands of apostolates available and even untapped for anyone who wants to work for God. This is a reminder that in God’s vineyard, all hands must be on deck.

This is reminding us that we do not have to fold our hands and watch others work and we clap for them, it is a reminder that you too have something to do for God’s ministry.

Therefore, to be a christian is not a mission where we just sit down and watch others do the work for us but a call for everyone to become a part of the work, choose your own mission and do it with all your hearts.

The Harvest is rich, not empty. The harvest is full of work, not lack. A lot is yet to be done. God also needs you. 

 

What Is a Harvest?

 

A harvest is the time when what was planted is ready to be gathered. It is the time when the farmer enters the field and collects the fruits. 

Hence, in the scripture, harvest is not only about crops. Harvest means souls. Harvest means people. When we talk about harvest, we mean lives that are ready to be touched by God. 

 

Harvest means men and women waiting to hear your voice, read what you write and be influenced. Harvest involves also those  families who are waiting to be healed. It also means sinners waiting to be brought back. 

 

Harvest means youths waiting for direction, the poor waiting for your generosity and love and the broken waiting for your encouragement. Harvest means people who are close to God’s mercy but need someone to show them the way.

 

In Matthew 9:37–38, the Greek word used for “harvest” is: θερισμός — therismos. Therismos means: harvest, reaping, gathering of crops, the season of harvest, or the act of collecting what is ripe.

 

Therefore, harvest as it is used here means the gathering of what is ripe. Jesus is saying that many souls are ripe for God’s mercy.

 

Many hearts are ready to be touched. Many sinners are ready to return. Many broken people are waiting for healing. Many confused people are waiting for directions.

 

Therefore, the problem is not that there is no harvest. The problem is that the labourers are few. A lot of people are not willing. A lot are okay with the little , so many do not want any stress. 

 

Therefore, this is saying that the harvest is not empty.  God’s vineyard is not barren. A lot of souls are waiting. People are hungry for God. But God is looking for men and women who will enter the vineyard and work for Him.

 

God Did Not Save You for Nothing.

 

1.In the first reading from Exodus 19:2–6, God speaks to the people of Israel through Moses. He reminds them of what He did for them in Egypt. He says:

“You yourselves have seen what I did with the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself.”

 

What this is saying is that God reminded how He has been with them in times of their challenges and slavery. God carried them on eagle’s wings. 

 

They were slaves, but God delivered them. They were oppressed, but God rescued them. They were helpless, but God fought for them. Even when they had no power, God became their strength. He brought them out, not because they were powerful, but because He loved them. 

But after saving them, God did not leave them without a purpose. He said: “I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.” 

This means that God delivered them so that they would become His people. He saved them so that they would become witnesses. He blessed them so that through them, others would know Him.

 

 

2.Beloved, this is also our story. God did not save you for nothing. There is also a reason, God has been there for you. You are saved for a reason. God did not protect you for nothing.

 

God did not forgive you for nothing. God did not bring you out of darkness for nothing. He did not give you life, talent, faith, opportunity, experience, and grace for nothing.You are saved to save others. You are blessed to bless others. 

 

You are not only a receiver of blessings. You are also called to become a giver of blessings. You are not only someone God has helped. You are also someone God wants to use to help others. The Harvest is rich. You are part of this work. 

 

3. God still needs you in your family. He still needs you in your community. That place you are working now needs what you can offer. God still needs you in your workplace.

God still needs you in your parish. God still needs you among your friends. God still needs you on social media. Your voice, kindness, prayer, forgiveness, your service, and your good examples can touch a life.

 

 

4. Therefore, understand that you are part of the work. There is a lot to be done. The harvest is so rich, and you are not excluded. Do not say, “I am nothing.” Do not say, “I am not qualified.” Do not say, “I am too weak.” Do not say, “I am too sinful.” Look at the apostles Jesus called. Peter was not perfect.

 

Thomas doubted. Matthew was a tax collector. James and John had ambition. Judas would later betray Him. Yet Jesus called them.

Why? Because God does not call only the perfect. He calls the available. He calls those He can transform. He calls ordinary people and gives them extraordinary grace.

 

 

5. Do not only stay at one corner criticizing , blackmailing and destroying the image of those who are struggling and trying their best to fulfil their mission. Count yourself in. 

 

Christ Died for Us While We Were Still Sinners

 

1. In the second reading from Romans 5:6–11, St. Paul says “What proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.”

Therefore, this is saying that  Christ did not wait for us to become perfect before loving us. He did not wait for us to become holy before dying for us. He did not wait for us to deserve His mercy. While we were still sinners, He died for us.

 

This means that the mission is not born from pride. We do not serve God because we are better than others. We do not preach because we are perfect. We do not correct others because we are saints already.

We serve because we have been loved. We preach because we have been forgiven. We help because we have been helped. We show mercy because mercy has been shown to us.

A true labourer in God’s harvest must always remember this: You are a product of God’s mercy.

 

 

2.When you remember that God loved you when you were weak, you will not condemn the weak. When you remember that God forgave you when you fell, you will not rejoice when others fall.

 

When you remember that God waited patiently for you, you will also learn to be patient with others. When you remember that Christ died for sinners, you will not give up on sinners.

 

This is why the Church must never become a place where we only judge the wounded. The Church must be a place where the wounded can meet the healer.

 The family must not become a place where people are destroyed by words. It must become a place where love brings people back.

 

The Christian life must not become a life of selfishness. It must become a life of mission. This is our mission. There is a lot to be done. 

 

Sheep without a Shepherd

 

1.In the gospel, when Jesus saw the crowds, He felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

This is saying that Jesus looked at them with mercy and understood their conditions. Jesus did not look at the crowd with anger nor with condemnation. 

Jesus did not say, “These people are disturbing me.” because this is what many would have done. He did not say, “These people are stubborn.” Rather, Jesus felt sorry for them. He was moved with compassion.

 

 

2.Jesus saw beyond their physical appearance. He saw that they feel dejected, tired and may be hungry and spiritually confused. Jesus looked at them and saw that they were carrying many burdens.

 

Therefore, this means that when we encounter people, we have to look beyond their physical appearance to their present condition.

 

We do not use their conditions as a means to castigate them, rather we have to attend them with compassion. We have to live for the sake of others. 

Many people are smiling outside, but broken inside. Many people dress well, but their souls are bleeding. Many people post beautiful pictures online, but at night they cry alone. 

 

 

 

3.Many families look peaceful from outside, but inside there is bitterness, fighting, unforgiveness, and pain. 

Many youths are intelligent, but they are lost. Many Christians are baptized, but they do not know God deeply. 

Today, many people come to Church, but their hearts are far from God. Many people are surrounded by people, yet they feel lonely. Many people are living, but they have lost the joy of living.

Jesus sees all these things. Jesus sees the crowd. Jesus sees the pain. Jesus sees the confusion. Jesus sees hunger. And after seeing all these, He says, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.”

 

 

4. In other words, Jesus is saying, “There is work to do. There are souls to save. There are wounds to heal. There are people to encourage. There are families to restore. There are sinners to bring back.

There are children to teach. There are youths to guide. There are broken hearts to lift up. But where are the labourers?” 

 

 

5. We have to quit focusing on what others are doing and choose our own apostolate. What can you begin to do today? How can you be part of this mission and call?

 In the parish, the apostolate is not only about Sunday and morning masses. They are not only about the CMO, CWO, Youths and MARY LEAGUE. We have a lot of apostolates waiting for people to grab them.

 

Many are sick, many are forgotten, many are not catechised, many youths are losing faith, do we continue to fold our hands?

A lot of pious societies are dying, many marriages are breaking. Who will take it upon himself or herself to take them up. Who will lead the work of healing marriages?

Who will take it upon himself to bring lost youths back to the church? We should not leave everything for the priests. This is the time. 

 

The Labourers Are Few Because Many Christians Are Sleeping

 

1.The harvest is rich, but many labourers are sleeping. It is not that we do not have time for these, we have a lot of time and opportunities. 

Many people today are ready to work for money, but not for God. Many people are ready to post gossip, but not the Word of God. 

Many people are ready to defend politicians, celebrities, and football clubs, but they are ashamed to defend their faith. 

Many people can talk for hours about other people’s mistakes, but cannot spend five minutes encouraging a broken soul. Many people are active online, but inactive in the vineyard of God. They are busy looking for who to hook up with. Many people want blessings from God, but they do not want responsibility from God.

 

 

2. Today, Jesus is calling us to wake up. There is a harvest in your family. Maybe there is someone in your family who has stopped praying. That person is part of the harvest. 

There is a harvest in your marriage. Maybe love is becoming cold. That marriage is part of the harvest. There is a harvest among your children. Maybe they are growing without faith. They are part of the harvest. 

There is a harvest in your place of work. Maybe people there need honesty, kindness, and good examples. 

There is a harvest in your parish. Maybe the Church needs volunteers who can help the priest in your parish, teachers, choir members, cleaners, catechists, helpers, and people who can pray. 

There is a harvest on social media. Many people are using it to destroy souls, but you can use it to save souls. So the question is: Are you a labourer or only a spectator?

 

You Do Not Need a Pulpit to Work for God

 

1.Some people think that to work for God, you must be a priest, a pastor, a religious sister, or a preacher. No. You do not need a pulpit to become a labourer in God’s harvest.

A mother who teaches her children how to pray is a labourer. A father who leads his family with love and good example is a labourer.

 A youth who refuses to join bad friends and encourages others to do good is a labourer.

 A teacher who forms students with truth and patience is a labourer. A trader who refuses to cheat is a labourer. 

A nurse or doctor who treats patients with compassion is a labourer. A Christian who forgives instead of seeking revenge is a labourer.

 A person who visits the sick, feeds the hungry, comforts the discouraged, and prays for others is a labourer.

 

 

2. Do not wait until you can do something big. Start with what is in your hand. Start with your words. Start with your attitude. Start with your home.

You can even start with one person. Start with one act of kindness. Go to the parish, find what is lacking, begin the movement. Check the bloc rosary is it functioning? Activate them.

 As a priest, the bloc rosary is always one of my priorities. Their prayers are powerful. Sometimes, I give them intentions to pray. Many of the intentions handled by the bloc rosary are answered. You can make this experiment. I write out of experience. 

 

So today, join the wagon. Start with one thing: Start with one message of encouragement. Start with one decision to talk to someone who has lost faith in your parish.

Sometimes, one word can save a soul. One visit can heal a heart. One prayer can strengthen someone. One good example can bring someone back to God. One act of forgiveness can restore a family. One sincere piece of advice can prevent someone from making a terrible mistake. Never underestimate what God can do through you.

 

Conclusion

 

1.First, We have to understand that we should not live on this earth as if we owe God nothing. We owe him our own services, we owe him the use of our gifts and talents that he gave to us.

 Remember what happened in the parable of the talents. The first reading reminds us that God has carried us on eagle’s wings, so we must not live as if we owe Him nothing. 

In the first reading, God reminded Israel of His saving love. We too must remember what God has done for us. If God has saved you, protected you, forgiven you, and blessed you, then your life must become a thank-you offering to Him. 

Today many are so heart hardened and heart blocked that thanksgiving to God becomes a burden to them, yet they want more from God. Not every time you keep on asking, once in a while you have to do thanksgiving for the ones given to us and the one that is coming. Let us not become selfish

 

 

2. Second, we are a kingdom of priests and a consecrated nation. This means we belong to God. We are not ordinary. Our lives must carry God’s presence. Our words must carry peace.

Do not become an agent of destruction. Be an agent of peace and unity. We have to touch lives with our presence. Do not destroy them.

 

Our actions must show holiness. Our homes must reflect God. As a christian, you are not called to destroy your home. You are called to bring peace and love. 

 

 

 

3. The second reading says that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Therefore, we must not use our past as an excuse to run away from God. 

Your past may be wounded, but your future can still be holy. Your mistakes may be many, but God’s mercy is greater.

 

Do not say, “God cannot use me.” If Christ died for you while you were still a sinner, then He can also transform you into a servant.

 

Check all those used mightily in the bible, they all had their mistakes and dirty pasts. The past is not you. The past belongs to the past. 

 

 

4. In today’s gospel, Jesus sees the pain of the crowd. He sees the people who are harassed and dejected. Therefore, we must also open our eyes. Do not be a Christian who sees suffering and passes by. 

Do not be a Christian who sees someone falling and laughs. 

Do not be a Christian who sees a weakness in somebody’s life and then uses it to destroy the image of the person. Ask yourself, “What can I do? Whom can I help? Whom can I encourage? Whom can I bring closer to God?”

 

 

5. The harvest is rich, but labourers are few. This is the heart of today’s message. God is not only asking us to pray for labourers. He is also asking us to become labourers. 

Sometimes the answer to your prayer is you. Sometimes the person God wants to send is you. 

Sometimes the voice God wants to use is your voice. Sometimes the hand God wants to use is your hand. Sometimes the heart God wants to use is your heart. Quit looking for an external saviour, you could be the saviour. 

 

 

6. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus says: “You received without charge, give without charge.”

This is a serious message. Everything we have is a gift. Life is a gift. Faith is a gift. Forgiveness is a gift. Family is a gift. Health is a gift. Opportunity is a gift. Salvation is a gift. Even the breath we are breathing now is a gift.

Do not be the kind of Christian who only wants to collect from God but never wants to give back. 

Do not be the kind of person who says, “God bless me, God help me, God heal me, God open doors for me,” but when God says, “Go and help others,” you disappear. When God says “support the church” You forget how you have been blessed by God and run away. 

The one who has received mercy must become a messenger of mercy. The one who has received light must become light for others. The one who has been lifted must help lift others.

 

 

 

 

7. The question is not whether there is work to do. There is plenty of work. The question is: Will you make yourself available? God still needs you. He needs your voice to speak the truth.
He needs your hands to serve. He needs your life to become a sign that He is still alive.

Do not waste your life. Do not bury your gift. Do not remain a spectator in the house of God. Do not say, “Others will do it.” 

Today, Jesus is calling you. The harvest is rich. The souls are many. The needs are everywhere. The wounds are deep. The confusion is great. But the grace of God is greater. Stand up. 

Wake up. Return to God. Serve God. Touch lives. Heal wounds. Encourage souls. Bring someone back to Christ. Because the harvest is rich, and God still needs you.

May God bless you and give us the grace to work for Him with our whole heart. Amen.