“THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE LABOURERS ARE FEW” (Matt 9:37)

⏰Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (10 July 2018)

📖Hos 8:4-7, 11-13; Ps 115:3-4, 5-6, 7ab and 8, 9-10 (R.v.9a); Matt 9:32-38

I was just thinking whether there is still any need to say that the labourers are few in the face of this obvious boom in the vocation to the priestly and religious life. There are many preachers all over the place today claiming to preach the Good News. So why do we still need to pray for more labourers in the vineyard?

Even though it is possible that there are still many places where the Good News has not been preached, the major challenge we have today is the problem of bad eggs who are really not interested in the Word of God but call themselves preachers.

The activities of such preachers was the reason Israel deviated from the worship of one God and began to build altars for idols all over the land, thus desecrating the land with untold abominations. That is what the prophet Hosea tried to condemn in Hos 8:4-13.

We need to pray to God for real labourers and witnesses in the Lord’s vineyard and for the conversion of the pretenders.

Note that what we said that is needed is PRAYER and NOT CRITICISM. Do not be part of those who go about criticizing the ministers of the Gospel. You might do this in error and so attract the wrath of God (see Matt 12:28).

May the Lord Jesus who was going about doing good (Matt 9:35) raise up for us men and women who are ready to preach the gospel with dedication and fear of God, feeding the flock of God instead of feeding on them. Amen.

Have a beautiful and grace-filled day. Peace be with you dear.