誰去收割祂的莊稼？

那時候，耶穌另外選定了七十二人，派遣他們兩個兩個地在他前面，到他自己將要去的各城各地去。他對他們說：「莊稼多而工人少，所以你們應當求莊稼的主人，派遣工人來，收割他的莊稼。你們去罷！看，我派遣你們猶如羔羊往狼群中。你們不要帶錢囊，不要帶口袋，也不要帶鞋；路上也不要向人請安。不論進了那一家，先說：「願這一家平安!」那裡如有和平之子，你們的和平就要停留在他身上；否則，仍歸於你們。你們要住在那一家，吃喝他們所供給的，因為工人自當有他的工資；你們不可從這一家挪到那一家。不論進了那座城，人若接納你們，給你們擺上什麼，你們就吃什麼。要醫治城中的病人，並給他們說：天主的國已經臨近你們了。不論進了那座城，人如不接納你們，你們就出來，到街市上說：連你們城中粘在我們腳上的塵土，我們也要給你們拂下來；但是你們當知道：天主的國已經臨近了。我告訴你們：在那一日，索多瑪所受的懲罰，要比這座城容易忍受。」
路加福音 10:1-12

我們在上星期讀到耶穌派遣了十二宗徒出外宣講福音。在今天的福音中，我們看到耶穌更多派另外七十二人出外。

耶穌說：「莊稼多而工人少，所以你們應當求莊稼的主人，派遣工人來，收割他的莊稼。」我們常在推廣聖召的單張看到這句說話，這當然十分貼切，但收割莊稼的任務，並不局限在神父、修女身上，所有基督徒都該加入成為當中的一份子。只要有心回應這召叫，永不會太遲。

為願意出外宣講的人，耶穌也事先提醒他們這絕不容易：「看，我派遣你們猶如羔羊往狼群中。」我們宣揚的訊息縱使是真理、愛和公義，卻不是人人都願意接受的。人們可能把我們的訊息扭曲。我們甚至會被視為威脅而遭受迫害。

耶穌曾說過「狐狸有穴，天上的飛鳥有巢；但是人子卻沒有枕頭的地方。」（路加福音 9:58) 祂也吩咐出外傳福音的人不要帶些什麼，以免所擁有的最終成為束縛，妨礙福傳的任務。你願意放下不必要的身外物，接受耶穌的派遣出外宣講福音嗎？

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.' Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.”
Luke 10:1-12

We read from the Gospel last week that Jesus sent the twelve apostles to preach the Good News. In today's Gospel, we read that Jesus sent another seventy-two people on their mission.

Jesus said: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." This is a line we often read in vocation campaigns, which is absolutely relevant. However the task of harvesting is not strictly for priests and nuns. All Christians should be part of it. It is never too late to respond this call.

For those who are willing to go out and preach, Jesus warned them that it would not be easy: "Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves." The message of truth, love and justice that we preach might not necessarily be well-received. People might distort our message, or see us as threats. We may face persecution.

Jesus had once said that: "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." (Luke 9:58) He also asked the disciples to travel light, in order to avoid their belongings from weighing them down. Are you willing to forego unnecessary belongings and respond to Jesus' call to spread the Good News?

福傳門徒迫害

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