The harvest is great!

Good morning, happy Wednesday, and many blessings.

In today’s Gospel, Matthew 10:1-7, Jesus establishes a commission to establish a discipleship to serve, instead of being served. Having taught the disciples to pray that God would send forth laborers into the harvest, Jesus commissioned them to serve in the harvest, essential using them as an answer to their prayers.

These twelve Jesus sent forth. Bear in mind, these men had traveled with Jesus for a while now. They had witnessed the miracles He performed and heard the message He preached. They had observed Jesus engaged in ministry on a daily basis. The Lord had been discipling these men, preparing them to engage in ministry themselves. The time had now come for them to go out and labor in the harvest as well.

Jesus said in Matthew 20:26 & 28, “Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant. And if you want to be right at the top, you must serve like a slave. Your attitude must be like My own. For I did not come to be served, but to serve.” Then Luke 22:26, “But among you the one who serves best will be your leader.”  These two verses are the foundation for Christian leadership. Jesus said the exact opposite of what the world says as what a real leader is. In the world, you build a pyramid and you climb to the top. But Jesus said, “No, he who serves best leads best.” Servanthood is leadership. The better you serve the more God raises you up to leadership.

Leadership is not a matter of getting people to serve your interests. Leadership is a matter of serving the best interests of others. Jesus said, If you want to be great, you learn to be the servant of all. I have some questions for you; Do you prefer serving or being served?  When you serve, how and where do you like to serve?  Why do you like to serve?  A more basic question is why do you serve?  Why all this chatter about serving?  Jesus told us the reason he came was not to be served but to serve, and to give his life for all (Mark 10:45).  Furthermore, he told his followers (us) that if we want to be great, follow his example and serve others (Mark 10:43).

This servant ministry is a radical discipleship. But let’s be clear, a radical discipleship that is merely performative, one that is animated only by a desire to do everything right and oppose everything wrong is an uprooted discipleship. Radical discipleship needs deep roots. It must be animated by the Spirit, who give us life. This is what Jesus was asking his disciples at that moment and is also asking us right now.

Radical Discipleship, my sisters and brothers, is more than words. It is about responding to God’s gracious call in Christ and putting faith into action. Radical discipleship does not invite us to contemplate the world, it invites us to contemplate and change this world and turn it into a community of peace with justice. Remember, you don't have to die to feel heaven, the Gospel of Jesus is a transforming experience of here and now. The harvest is great, and Jesus is calling you. Do you want to answer?

Blessings

Fr. Luis+