Today's Gospel in Art - The harvest is rich but the labourers are few

The Harvesters, by Pieter Breughel the Elder 1565, © Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Gospel of 18th October 2019 - Luke 10: 1-9

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!" And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."'

Reflection on the Painting

In today's reading we hear about Jesus sending His followers on a mission, so they can spread His word, throughout all the lands and throughout the centuries, even today. He sent out His followers in pairs, so that together they would achieve more than just on their own. So we are all little ambassadors helping to spread His Word. But when people meet us, do they think of us that we share the Good News? The privatisation of our faith in recent years, where most of us as Christians have become rather shy about sharing our faith, and rather live and worship in private, is not what we are supposed to do in our apostolic mission that Jesus calls us to in today's reading....To read on see: www.christianart.today/daily-gospel-reading/207