Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent
Isa 30:19-21,23-26
Mt 9:35-10:1,5,6-8
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to the harvest.“
The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. This line appears frequently whenever we have prayers for more vocations. And yes, we do need more vocations, so please continue to pray for that intention. In this reflection, however, I am seeing this verse in a slightly different light. This verse does not only apply to religious vocations; but can, and should, apply to all of us Christians who make up the Apostolate.
What I mean is simply that all of us Christians are called to spread the Good News. In the gospel, Matthew talks about those with disease, those infirm, distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. In other words, there are multitudes of people in the world who are hurting, lost, confused. And when I think about it, there simply aren’t enough consecrated religious people to go around administering to them. That means the laity has to step up. Indeed, we the laity are plentiful. We are not perfect, but we carry within us the light of Christ. And we can spread that light to others.
My family has been part of a larger Catholic community for a short while now. This community is made up of families and, as anyone who is a part of a family knows, families are far from perfect. Families are often messy, hurt, broken. But these families are reaching for God, and every member is trying their hardest to be better, for their families and for the community. And the most wonderful thing about this community is the knowledge that we are not alone. Any and every community provides that assurance and security that no one is alone in their pain and anguish. We can relate to every hurt, every wound, every weakness. And in a community, we look out for one another, and we uplift one another.
Every one of us has gifts and talents gifted by none other than God himself. This is what Mission is about – using our gifts and talents to spread the Good News about God’s love, to bring others into God’s light, to share the little joys and blessings that we have so that others may experience them too.
In a Christian community, everyone has a role to play. Even the children, no matter their age. In the community that I am in, the babies keep reminding me of just how fast time flies. I am very much compelled to savour every second with my children before they get too old. It is also wonderful to see the older children learn to be responsible for the little tots. Older children and teens can also play their part by sharing their own knowledge of the faith to one another, or simply by being a friend to another child. As adults, we prop one another up — we are all struggling, and it is nice to know that we are not alone in our battles. We can either be the one that has ‘been-there-done-that’ and is giving encouragement, or we can be the cheerleaders who simply hold others in their sorrows and aches, or we can be the wide-eyed young ones who will remind the others of all the beauty and love that can be found in innocence.
What I am essentially saying is that everyone of us has a Mission, and that can be just by being present for someone else. Do not underestimate the plan that God has for you. Do not underestimate the gifts you have been given. Do not discount the positive impact you can have on another, whether you know it or not. We are here for a reason — so sit in silence and ask God what that reason is. If you are unsure about it, just take it on good faith that you are here to spread some joy and love to someone who needs it!
My brothers and sisters in Christ, the world is broken, and so are we. What we do have is the benefit of knowing about God’s everlasting love for us, and this helps us to heal. The harvest is plentiful — many hearts are yearning. Will you take up the mantle? Will you share the reason for your hope? Will you be an encouraging presence? Will you share God’s love? Yes? Then let’s go!
(Today’s OXYGEN by Felicia Zou)
Prayer: Dear Lord, give us the courage and strength to put our gifts and talents to good use in order to spread Your love and peace to others.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank You for the gift of our gifts, and the gift of a community.
OXYGEN 
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