A brief meditation designed to snap you back into the restoring power of God’s love.
2026-06-07
The Harvest Is Plentiful
Here is a passage in the Gospel of Matthew many Christians know well:
Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt deeply sorry for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “There’s plenty of harvest to be had, but not many workers! So pray the master of the harvest to send more workers to harvest his fields!”
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to heal every disease and every sickness.(Matthew 9:35-10:1 NTFE).
One reason Matthew writes all this is to show that the love and grace of Jesus were not just feelingsof compassion. The love and mercy in Jesus’ heart compelled him to take action. He not only felt sorry for them but also did something to alleviate their pain, distress, and hopelessness. His disciples were, up to this point, excellent observers; they were watching and taking notes, trying to learn as much as possible, as good students. But Jesus didn’t want just talented students making good grades. He wanted to take those disciples to a higher level. Jesus pointed out to them the evident condition: “There’s plenty of harvest…” What Jesus calls a plentiful harvest might not align with our own ideas of what “plentiful” means. Matthew already said that these were harassed people, gloomy, troubled, oppressed, and physically and spiritually broken.
We may think of a plentiful harvest as a religious, well-off, confident, and well-organized group of people. But Jesus is not looking at appearances; he is not interested in our do-it-yourself spiritual accomplishments or well-performed religion. What do you see out there in your neighbourhood? Can’t you see plenty of broken-hearted people? One neighbour with terminal cancer, another grieving her late husband, another who has lost their job, another with a dysfunctional family, and a single mom struggling to feed her children, even a family that lacks nothing except real love at home. The world is still the same. We can also see spiritually disoriented people as “sheep without a shepherd.” And those who hold leadership positions are going in erratic ways, confused and lacking true wisdom.
Can we feel the same compassion for them as Jesus does? Do we pity them, or do we feel anger, a sense of threat, or superiority? Our natural tendency is to despise and criticize these disoriented people, believing we’ve found the right way on our own. Yet Jesus calls them his plentiful harvest. So Jesus drew his disciples’ attention to that kind of harvest. Then he called them to action. The first steps in that direction were not to be taken on their feet but on their knees! “Pray,” said Jesus. “Pray to the master of the harvest to send more workers,” more leaders, more people who, like him, could have compassion on them and bless them with hope, healing and direction.
But here is something very interesting, even uncomfortable. What if the answer to this prayer for more workers is you, your very own self? We might be tempted to pray, “Lord, please send others, send more ministers, send more workers, send more supporters and volunteers for your work, but not me.” But what if God’s answer is “you go and do it. Go by yourself. I’ll give you my authority, power and direction?” That is exactly what happened to the disciples, and it may happen to us. Jesus says, “You see the need, pray, then go!” He called them, gave them authority, power, and instruction, and sent them to the harvest field. The mission was a success. These disciples were not yet experts, nor were they “perfect Christians.” They were humble disciples who took Jesus’ words to heart and acted accordingly.
May you and I always be open to being harvesters in Jesus’ plentiful fields. May we pray and act in His name with confidence and determination, bringing hope, healing, and direction to this world in need.
In Jesus’ love,
Alvaro.
Alvaro Palacio
gcitorontoeast.org 