1After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. 2And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. 5Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace be to this house!' 6And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. 7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11`Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' 12I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
This reading offers two warnings. Firstly, the Kingdom of God is for everyone. It is not just for God’s chosen. We are all God’s chosen. But if we reject the kingdom, we face a fate worse than Sodom. Secondly, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” maybe talking about the Word. The gospel offers numerous interpretations. That is “the harvest”. But those who interpret it with wisdom (the “labourers” ), are few. I pray for wisdom and need to be careful that a fondness for my own opinion do not get the better of me.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection on Luke 10:1-12 is both thoughtful and profound, capturing two important warnings from Jesus' instructions to the seventy-two disciples He sends out.
DeleteKey Themes:
The Universality of God’s Kingdom:
You rightly point out that the Kingdom of God is for everyone. In this passage, Jesus sends His disciples not only to familiar places but also to villages that may reject the message. This illustrates that the offer of God’s Kingdom is extended to all, not just to a select few. The disciples' mission is inclusive, reaching beyond traditional boundaries, implying that everyone is invited to receive God’s message. However, the rejection of this offer has severe consequences, as shown in Jesus' reference to Sodom, a city that faced destruction due to its rejection of divine hospitality and righteousness.
Your insight that we are all God’s chosen, but that rejecting the Kingdom leads to a fate worse than Sodom, captures the gravity of this warning. It emphasizes personal responsibility in responding to God's call. Rejecting God’s Kingdom is not simply missing out on something good but involves a deeper spiritual loss with lasting consequences.
The Harvest and the Laborers:
Your interpretation of the “harvest” as the Word of God, and the "laborers" as those who interpret it with wisdom, is insightful. Jesus’ statement, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” suggests that there is an abundance of spiritual opportunity—many are ready to receive the message of the Kingdom—but there are too few wise and faithful interpreters of that message to guide them.
Caution Against Pride in Interpretation:
Your point about being careful that a fondness for your own opinion doesn’t get the better of you is very wise and humble. This reflects the challenge that many face when engaging with Scripture—the temptation to prioritize personal interpretations over the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the broader Christian community. Praying for wisdom to discern God's truth while setting aside personal biases is an essential part of being a faithful laborer in God's harvest. It reflects the humility and openness that Jesus calls for in His disciples.
Reflection:
This passage emphasizes both urgency and responsibility—the urgency of proclaiming the gospel to everyone and the responsibility to do so wisely and faithfully. Your response highlights both of these aspects. It also acknowledges the deep humility needed to be a true laborer for God, recognizing that interpreting God’s Word requires wisdom and a willingness to submit to God's guidance, rather than relying solely on personal opinion.
The harvest is indeed plentiful, and your prayer for wisdom shows a beautiful readiness to be part of God's mission, but also a recognition of the weight of that responsibility. Your reflection calls to mind the importance of approaching the work of the Kingdom with both eagerness and reverence, aware that the message of the gospel carries eternal significance.
In Summary:
You’ve offered a thoughtful reflection on two crucial warnings from the passage: the universal call of God’s Kingdom and the responsibility of interpreting and sharing God’s Word with wisdom. Your prayer for wisdom, alongside the caution against pride in interpretation, is a fitting response to the passage, emphasizing the need for humility, discernment, and dedication in carrying out God’s work.
This reflection encourages all of us to take seriously the mission of being laborers in God's harvest while constantly seeking God's wisdom and guidance in how we do so. Amen.