誰去收割祂的莊稼?
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?
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?