Tuesday August 4th: The harvest is rich

“…they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Matthew 9:35-10:1

Jesus was moved with compassion while touring towns and villages preaching, teaching, and healing. The people looked like lost sheep; like a great, rich harvest going to waste because labourers were few.

So, the Lord of the Harvest sent His disciples out into the fields. And the harvest-tools of scythe and sickle that Jesus gave were POWER to heal and AUTHORITY to exorcise. So that the rich crop of humanity may be harvested with the GOOD NEWS before it lost God’s glory.

Today is the feast of  John Vianney: Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Like Jesus, his ministry was driven by compassion for souls. He answered God’s call to labour faithfully even through overwhelming tasks. Vianney rose to the challenges this passage offers all Christians who share in Christ’s mission to:

• see others with compassion
• pray for vocations
• serve faithfully where God places you
• lead people to God’s mercy

John Vianney’s life reminds Christians that the mission of Jesus continues through ordinary people who respond wholeheartedly to God’s call, bringing hope, mercy and healing to those in need.

St. John Vianney, pray for us. Amen.