Dear friends in Christ
As in so many instances, Jesus in the Gospel of this Sunday draws from the natural world an example for His teaching. He sees the fields full and ready for harvesting, but then laments the lack of labourers for the task. The analogy is clear—God needs faithful apostles for the work of bringing souls to Him. Today, no less than at the beginning of the Church, there is a need for Christians to be faithful, joyful and effective in the work of spreading the message of Jesus Christ. This begins when we live-out our faith to the full. God needs men and women, boys and girls, who will bring their faith into the workplace, into the classroom and university, into social settings and places of recreation, all so that the saving message of Jesus may be heard and welcomed. There are plenty of reasons why we don't do this as we ought: we think we lack the knowledge, or lack the time and resources, we lack the capacity or we are too timid; these are all the reasons given in every age, from the start until now, why Christians have failed Christ and His mission for the salvation of souls. The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few. Saint Gregory the Great comments: When we hear this, we cannot, but feel sad, because we know that there are people who want to listen to the good news, but what is missing are people who might announce these tidings to them. In this month of June—month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—we can pray earnestly that we might have something of the Heart of Jesus within us, to make us glow with a natural warmth for our Faith and by that warmth, transmit the saving Word of God to those who need it in our world.
We thank all those who helped with the Eucharistic Procession last Sunday: the Catechists, Stewards, Servers and Musicians (Tilbury Brass Band) and those who prepared the lovely Tea afterwards which was such a lovely social occasion too. Those who made the time to attend, and show their public faith in our Eucharistic Lord, will know the blessing of Jesus in this life and the next. In the light of the Gospel this weekend, we can ask for the fortitude to be those apostles ready and equipped to proclaim Jesus as Lord!
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale