“Gratefully Laboring in the Harvest” by Beth DeCristofaro
…my own eyes, not another's, shall behold him, and from my flesh, I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing. (Job 19:27)
He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so, ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way…Yet know this: The Kingdom of God is at hand. (Luke 10:2, 11)
Piety
O God by whose gift St Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. (Collect from Mass of the Day)
Study
Harvest is a feast for the senses. Now, I’m an urban girl by birth and upbringing, but I’ve been at fields during harvest in the US and for the vendange in France when the air is full of the rich, intoxicating aromas of warmed grasses, fecund earth, fermenting grapes. The skin is caressed by balmy sunshine and showered by flying bits of grain or juice as well as flurrying insects. There is always an atmosphere of intensity as workers rush to get the work done before changing temperatures or rains ruin the crops. Backs ache, faces burn, there is satisfaction in the oneness with the earth. It is, in fact, a DeColores of touch, sight, sound, smell, hearing, and taste! Harvest can be jubilant and fulfilling as the fruits of the earth are gathered in.
And so, it can be for the Harvest of the Lord. Jesus’ words point to just how difficult it can be and too often we are lost in the immensity, the lack of return and the ingratitude of the world. St Francis did not let the overwhelming need for reform stop him from gently, quietly and lovingly embrace God’s creation and God’s word while transforming the church. From the stories we hear, it sounds as if Francis lived Harvest, modeling vendange with his life: “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and live the Gospel."
Action
Today it is ironic how starkly we see that the laborers are few. There are not enough migrant workers to bring in the abundance of the land in many of our states. Christian leaders are mixing politics with sowing, reaping and there is little gleaning which gives to the poor. Francis would have a lot of work to do. And so, do we. Your hoe could be a stethoscope, your pruner might be a computer, your shears might be music and your shovel might be the listening to another’s story. Our neighbor might not be sweaty or driving a tractor. How am I laboring in God’s harvest today? Am I praising the produce of God’s creation, am I grateful? Or am I hurt, dejected, angry? Go on your way … Yet know this: The Kingdom of God is at hand.
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