The harvest is great and the workers few refers to the teaching that Jesus left us in this gospel, in which he refers to the number of people who can accept and receive the Lord Jesus as their savior, but when it comes to serving him, we find that few assume this mandate. This can be seen in the following passage:
“Jesus went through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all sickness and disease among the people. And when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them; because they were helpless and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples: Truly the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)
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The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few – What can we learn from this teaching?
When Our Lord Jesus Christ told us “The harvest is much more, the workers are few” He is challenging us to assume our responsibility as children of God and to serve in his work and thus proclaim the good news. When Jesus came to this earth, he was very clear about the mission to which he had been entrusted, and when he began his Ministry he worked diligently and always stayed in communion with his Father.
In this way, since the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had contact with the people, with the needy, and even with those who later became his infamyers. In this teaching then it is important to highlight three important aspects that we must consider when analyzing this little sermon:
1.- We must get out of our comfort
In the same way that Jesus went out to preach to all towns and villages, in the same way we must have the willingness to serve God despite the obstacles that are presented to us in life.
First of all, in this teaching we can notice that Jesus tells us about leaving comfort and acting according to the purpose we have in our lives, putting aside our own desires or exercising our own will.
In this way, Jesus demands us to get closer to people and manifest what God has done in our lives, pray for others, proclaim healing and in their name release, heal and comfort. That is our work as servants of Our Lord.
On the other hand, in this teaching Jesus shows us that we must go to the Father in prayer and ask and pray for him to send worthy workers to gather the harvest: “Pray, therefore, to the Lord of the harvest, to send workers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38)
Jesus Christ visited big cities, small ones, poor ones, rich ones and had to walk down dark paths and met people from different social classes, taught in the synagogues, healed the sick.
Passion of Christ and his interest in his neighbor went beyond limits, and his courage to continue on these rugged paths in which his enemies offended him, insulted him and doubted his Ministry. But he remained firm and always had accurate answers to the slander that was raised against him.
So Jesus left all personal comfort and set out to work for the work of God, manifesting through healings, deliverances, prodigies and wonders, the great Power of God.
In this sense, this commitment of Jesus, full of love and passion, should be our great inspiration, since he, being God, made himself small, he became one of us to carry our burdens and our sins.
However, it is important to highlight that as children of God we are called to serve, understanding that in this world we must have responsibilities as parents, as students, as workers.
Therefore, we must ask God for direction to be able to serve the Lord without this interfering with our role, since although we are not of this world, we live in this world and we must comply with the system in which we are.
So this message should not be misinterpreted, it is about serving the Lord at all times without neglecting our personal life, unless it is a call from God. That is why we must ask for wisdom and discernment so as not to act on impulse or emotions.
2.- Feel compassion for others
In this teaching Jesus shows us his compassion for others, for those in need: “And when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them; because they were helpless and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36)
The mercy of Jesus in this passage has to do with the fact that he saw his people disoriented and confused, and this moved him because he came to this world to proclaim the salvation of humanity and for this his eyes had to be opened, and this was achieved by proclaiming his word, his teachings.
The compassion of Jesus It moved him to act according to the people and their needs, their sufferings. So as believers we are required to feel compassion for our neighbor and to take action, attending to his needs.
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Jesus not only felt mercy, but he acted and helped them at all times, approaching them, praying, teaching, manifesting his love with deeds. This must mobilize us from within and manifest it in our actions, since solidarity is giving without condition and offering what we have, and giving with the willingness to do so, leaving selfishness aside.
Jesus Christ compared these helpless people as sheep without a shepherd, as a people without any direction. So at present this teaching is of great edification for the churches, since we must follow the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ and seek first to do his will, which is perfect.
So, from the perspective of Our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the ways to put into practice the compassion and mercy it is through our deeds, and love of neighbor is one of the second commandments that synthesize all the other commandments.
In this sense, as Christians we must have the motivation to help our neighbor with love and at all times, not only when I have plenty, but when I have little, I must still show my willingness to give and deliver everything I receive by grace. of God. As the word says: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons; Freely you received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
In this same order of ideas, it is important to be sensitive to the need of the otherdoing what we can do to improve the condition of our neighbor, that is why Christ says that if something is asked of us, we give it without thinking: “To the one who strikes you on the cheek, also present the other; and to the one who takes your cloak, do not deny him the tunic either “ (Luke 6:29)
We must be sensitive just like our Lord Jesus Christ was, who was moved to mercy just by seeing people, but took action and began to heal the sick. In this way we must be motivated to put this teaching into practice, leave our own interests, leave our comfort and reflect the love and mercy of Christ.
How can we be God’s workers?
In order to be God’s workers we must get rid of the old man and truly become a new man, leaving our burdens, our ego, arrogance, and selfishness to dedicate ourselves to serving the Lord and proclaiming that we are children of God, that we have a calling and that we are willing to carry our own cross for the work of our beloved God.
When we read the word of God it is a joy in the face of the adversities of life. Regarding this verse “The harvest is much more, the workers are few” we can say that Jesus wanted to give us a great lesson about compassion, service, our mission as true disciples of the Lord.
It is not enough just to be next to the teacher, as happened to the disciples, it is not enough to see his miracles and wonders in our lives if we do not practice love with our neighbor, and a way of manifest love It is when we extend our hands to him, when we preach about God, when we expose our willingness to help him at all times.
It is not about having the title “son of God” it is about manifesting it through our testimony, which should reveal that we are different, that we are separated from the world, that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and that we have a purpose in this world. world and it is to serve our Father with all our love and total dedication.
That’s what it’s all about love without conditionto be workers from the heart and always ask God to help us in this work because it is certainly not easy in such a hostile world, but if we have Jesus in our lives, he will give us the tools to do his will and carry out God’s work here on earth, where we are temporarily and where we must leave a mark.
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