A few years ago, I had the privilege of going to the N.S. Tattoo along with 50,000 other people. This 3 hour show was very entertaining with its precision, displays of light and color, and music of all kinds. I was amazed at the number of people involved in putting on this show, 2,000 or better. But the majority there, including myself, were spectators.
One of the main difference between our current day's entertainment, whether it be the N.S. Tattoo, hockey games, TV or movies, and today's Gospel reading from Luke, is that Jesus is calling us to be more than spectators. He is calling us to be more than entertained. He is calling us into action. Yet, often times, and depending on how we view church, we can see ourselves as being only spectators, and not a part of the process of working out our salvation and the salvation of others.
Jesus' words for the people of His day ring just as true for us today: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
A few years ago, I read an article in the Halifax Herald that the crop of strawberries in the valley were plentiful that year, however, the farmers were having a real difficulty hiring people to pick them. As a result, a good part of the crop was lost. One of the farmers interviewed, said that he believes there are plenty of able bodied people around, just not as many willing ones as there use to be. Could it be said that the situation in church is similar to that of the farmer? We know there are plenty of gifted people out there, but for some reason, many seem unwilling to use their gifts in this particular way, to spread to Gospel. Why is this?
I have a sense that many Catholics may be stuck in a model of church where they see others, but not themselves, being called and sent out to be laborers in His Kingdom. Some would argue that this task is reserved for the priests, sisters, or a few others ordained for this purpose. The danger of this model of Church is that the mission is only for a few, and most of us may remain only spectators.
The movie “Jesus of Nazareth” came out many years ago and there was one scene in the movie that sticks out in my mind even to this day. It was right after Jesus had called forth His 12 disciples, and Peter and Matthew were speaking to each other. Peter was saying to Matthew: "I wonder if our lives will ever go back to where they were before we met Jesus." Matthew's response as He looked at Jesus was: "Peter, I think we both know deep down inside that our lives will never be the same again." Peter and Matthew had been called away from a way of life that was previously fashioned by the world, and were now beginning to embrace a whole new way of life. They began to hear a voice more powerful than themselves and more powerful than the world around them.
Secretly, deep within ourselves, we each know that when we encounter Jesus, the Lord of the Harvest, when we hear His voice speak to us, our lives will never be the same again. But at the same time, it is not easy to change, to move away from what we find comfortable; what we are familiar with. It makes us feel vulnerable.
Even today, with the current restructuring going on in the church, I know that I can feel vulnerable and perhaps a bit threatened by the changes that are being proposed. What new will be expected of me? How will I have to change? Do I even want to change? Will I be able to respond to this new call of the church to be missionary disciples and move away from other things that are more familiar, perhaps more comfortable? These are real question that we are asked to face in changing times.
Feeling vulnerable is not pleasant. We like to feel that we are in control of things. So when we feel vulnerable, we often see it as a sign of weakness, something to be avoided, and may even fight against it. But in truth, when we face our vulnerabilities properly, it can lead to incredible acts of courage and positive change. It can be engaging. It’s a reminder that we are all in this thing together, and together we can move forward with a new energy.
When we listen to God and allow Him to speak to our hearts, He not only calls us, but He also empowers us; that is, he gives the energy, the desire and will, the means to accomplish the task to which we are called. Our faith in Christ gives us the courage to move beyond our vulnerability.
In the second reading from Galatians, St. Paul speaks about this with such eloquence. "May I never boast of anything except the cross of Jesus Christ by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
So as we listen, Jesus claims us as His own. He chooses us, and sends us off together; or as in the Gospel, sends us off in pairs, to places where He Himself intended to go, but couldn’t do so by Himself. This creates for us a new way of looking at church, a new model that moves us from being a spectator to being engaged, and part of the process.
I’m sure the disciples felt very vulnerable as Jesus gave them instructions and sent them out to witness to the truth of the Gospel. Jesus himself described it as being sent out like lambs among wolves. But we read that when they returned they were filled with joy. This is the fruit of the Spirit that we receive as we listen to and embrace the mission to which we are called. As we hear from the prophet Isaiah: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and it shall be known that the hand of the Lord is with His servants.” And from the Gospel of John: I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is the joy we are all meant to experience as we are willing to move out of our comfort zones to take up Christ’s mission, not to be a spectator, but to be fully engaged in the mission to which each of us are called.
May this joy be with each of you as you take up the challenges that are in front of you today.
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