A reading and a reflection
St John 4: 31 – 38
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’
Reflection
Sometimes people simply do not understand what is important. Here the disciples were concerned about food and did not seem to realise that Jesus was busy with other things and food was not His priority. The pressing matter was to obey God and do the things that were needed. People were ready to hear the message, there was no need to wait, it was the time to harvest the people who wanted to learn and follow Jesus.
Do we feel like the disciples today? Are we concerned for our own physical needs and want to wait before doing the will of God? Do we find excuses not to speak about Jesus? Do we say that we need to wait a while until such and such has happened and then people will be ready?
As I write this we are emerging from a pandemic and into other uncertainties. When you read this what will the world be like? We have a few certainties that we need to hold onto, we can be certain of our own relationship with God as He is unchanging. We can be certain that today is the day to serve God and speak about Him to others because the fields are still ripe for harvesting. We can thank God for all the Christians who have gone before us preparing the ground so we can reap the benefits of their toil. If crops are left unharvested that will be of no use to anyone and in the same way if we do not reach out to people who have heard the word of God they will not understand and enter His kingdom. Let’s work without making excuses and like the disciples we will reap that which we did not sow.
Prayer
Almighty God I thank you for all you have done for us.
Help me to see the opportunities that You provide,
Give me the words to say
Help me to know when to speak out and when to be silent but above all teach me how to be true to you in everything I do
Amen