Send out laborers

The Readings

Exodus

The beginning of the Sinai covenant

at the beginning of the Exodus journey

Romans

We may speak of the cost of discipleship,

but the cost to God for our redemption was immeasurably more.

Gospel

Appears to be two distinct sections

After a series of instructions & healings, Jesus looks out to the crowd and is moved with empathy for them

‘harassed’ (lit: flayed, or severely whipped

‘helpless’ (lit: exhausted or without strength)

Jesus asks the disciples to pray for workers on behalf of these people

Jesus then commissions the Twelve, now called Apostles; sends them out.

The mission & the missionaries

You might wonder

why Jesus prayed for workers for the harvest

immediately turns around and sends out the Twelve.

I can imagine

Jesus praying for an abundance of workers/missionaries

then turning to the disciples and deciding,

we need many more, but right now,

I’m going to send the ones I have.

Jesus commissions them

and gives them an impressive share of his own authority

to proclaim

to heal

to dispel evil.

There’s a lesson here

For anyone who has said, ‘Here I am’ to Jesus’ call.

You might call it, ‘Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.’

I think we all know what happens when we wait for conditions to be ‘just right’. Often, it’s NOTHING!

Time passes and the thing isn’t done.

This isn’t

an invitation to rush headlong into whatever enters our heads.

After all, Jesus has been preparing the disciples all along.

Now, before sending them, he’s about to give them very specific instructions,

and he equips them with a share of his own authority.

This is

A lesson that applies no matter where we are on life’s journey.

An invitation to trust in God’s providence,

after asking the Holy Spirit’s guidance,

and with sufficient preparation,

and with due consideration for our own circumstances.

to get about doing whatever the Spirit prompts us.

So, let us pray the Lord of the harvest”

to send out laborers,

to inspire us/them for the mission,

to equip us all for the work.

But, when all is said and done, we have to do

As the old Nike commercial said: ‘

Just do it!’