11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 18/6/2023 - Gospel: John 6:51-59
Everlasting Call
The Church in developed country is experiencing a labour shortage to work for the Lord's vineyard. They used to send missionaries to work overseas; they now look for overseas missionaries to fill the gap. This trend is now in reverse.
The heart of Jesus' teaching is to love God and love our neighbours. This love is translated into concrete actions, such as lending a helping hand, giving financial support, and sharing gifts and talents. The call to work in the Lord's vineyard happened at the time of Jesus; when he told his disciples to pray for more vocation.
'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest'.
This short sentence is rich in its meaning. First, the rich harvest is in contrast to a poor labourer. Second, Jesus' teaching gives a solution to solve the labourer shortage. The solution is 'Ask the Lord of the harvest'. Third, the harvest is for people who refuse to follow God's way.
First, whether a harvest is rich or poor, it always has problems. Having a poor harvest, farmers worry about the cost to pay for the expenses; having a rich harvest, it requires to have a bigger storeroom and more labourers needed. The harvest Jesus talks about is people. Because the harvest is rich; he means people lack faith in Him. This makes the call to serve in the Lord's vineyard even more urgent. The harvest is rich because the needs of God's people are increasing. The more people turn away from God; the greater the need is, and the 'richer' the harvest is. God's way is perfect. All human ways, more or less, have deficiencies; because they are driven by human ambition; and that creates social division, injustice and violence.
Second, the call to serve is the old one. It happened at the time of Jesus, but its implication is always new and fresh. It is also a new call for each generation. When the present generation is getting on in age, a young generation replaced it; and new services are required. The call to serve is for not just one; but for all three generations. They are to serve one's own generation; and a generation who were born before them, who are their parents; and the generation who were born after them, who are their own children. The call is always new because each generation has its own problem, and the call is responding to emerging social problems. The call is old in the sense that its seed was implanted at the baptism ceremony. It is renewed at the sacrament of confirmation; and is renowned for the need of the local faith community.
Third, Jesus didn't ask for skilled labour because no skill is good enough to serve all three generations. Jesus calls for people who have a good, and generous heart to serve in God's vineyard. When the heart of a person provides the service, which meets the heart of the person who receives the service; both hearts are happy and the job is done.
Last, but not least, is the power of prayers. Prayer serves three purposes. First, it provides workers. Second, it has the power for the conversion of the heart. Third, it is the process of improving skills. Prayer provides workers. New workers probably are not from the believers who have already committed to the mission. They are from the people who just return to God. They bring with them their personal experience to overcome the current social problems. This personal conversion of the heart experience is considered as a new skill which is valuable to control new social problems. Prayer unites Jesus' disciples with him. They recognize that without him they are nothing. They unite to him and open themselves to receive God's grace, and that guides them on their mission field. This new skill is born out of prayers. It is God's gift given to those who follow his way.
We are called to bring God's love and to ease the heavy burden of life.
The heart of Jesus' teaching is to love God and love our neighbours. This love is translated into concrete actions, such as lending a helping hand, giving financial support, and sharing gifts and talents. The call to work in the Lord's vineyard happened at the time of Jesus; when he told his disciples to pray for more vocation.
'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest'.
This short sentence is rich in its meaning. First, the rich harvest is in contrast to a poor labourer. Second, Jesus' teaching gives a solution to solve the labourer shortage. The solution is 'Ask the Lord of the harvest'. Third, the harvest is for people who refuse to follow God's way.
First, whether a harvest is rich or poor, it always has problems. Having a poor harvest, farmers worry about the cost to pay for the expenses; having a rich harvest, it requires to have a bigger storeroom and more labourers needed. The harvest Jesus talks about is people. Because the harvest is rich; he means people lack faith in Him. This makes the call to serve in the Lord's vineyard even more urgent. The harvest is rich because the needs of God's people are increasing. The more people turn away from God; the greater the need is, and the 'richer' the harvest is. God's way is perfect. All human ways, more or less, have deficiencies; because they are driven by human ambition; and that creates social division, injustice and violence.
Second, the call to serve is the old one. It happened at the time of Jesus, but its implication is always new and fresh. It is also a new call for each generation. When the present generation is getting on in age, a young generation replaced it; and new services are required. The call to serve is for not just one; but for all three generations. They are to serve one's own generation; and a generation who were born before them, who are their parents; and the generation who were born after them, who are their own children. The call is always new because each generation has its own problem, and the call is responding to emerging social problems. The call is old in the sense that its seed was implanted at the baptism ceremony. It is renewed at the sacrament of confirmation; and is renowned for the need of the local faith community.
Third, Jesus didn't ask for skilled labour because no skill is good enough to serve all three generations. Jesus calls for people who have a good, and generous heart to serve in God's vineyard. When the heart of a person provides the service, which meets the heart of the person who receives the service; both hearts are happy and the job is done.
Last, but not least, is the power of prayers. Prayer serves three purposes. First, it provides workers. Second, it has the power for the conversion of the heart. Third, it is the process of improving skills. Prayer provides workers. New workers probably are not from the believers who have already committed to the mission. They are from the people who just return to God. They bring with them their personal experience to overcome the current social problems. This personal conversion of the heart experience is considered as a new skill which is valuable to control new social problems. Prayer unites Jesus' disciples with him. They recognize that without him they are nothing. They unite to him and open themselves to receive God's grace, and that guides them on their mission field. This new skill is born out of prayers. It is God's gift given to those who follow his way.
We are called to bring God's love and to ease the heavy burden of life.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
