Feast of Saints Cyril, monk, and Methodius, Bishop – Acts 13:46-49; Luke 10:1-9

“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.” I often reflect on this… In the time of Jesus, it was quite clear. But what about today? Given the many people who have been baptised, if only 10% of them were willing to serve, we would have a significant number of workers. Yet, as we read further: “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’.”

I believe I’ve identified the core issue. It’s not that there aren’t workers in the harvest who can heal; far from it. The real challenge lies in the proclamation: “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” After all, what do today’s harvest workers truly have to offer? Some focus on administration, others on delivering sacraments, and some are busy with various cultural engagements. But how many actually inspire hope? Hope in a world filled with confusion and contradiction? Hope that the kingdom of God is indeed very near to us?

I don’t often find opportunities to proclaim the Good News, or perhaps it’s more about my own lack of courage. However, when opportunities do arise, I strive to remember to offer hope first, and then to make demands…

Holy Spirit . . . it’s not easy to bear witness to the hope You give. Am I afraid of being rejected or laughed at? Perhaps, I’m not sure. Anyway, it’s harder than talking about the state of the world, social norms, or even Catholicism. Because it requires being foolish. Because what does it mean: the kingdom of God is very near to you? Christianity seems to be in retreat. At least it does with us. This Kingdom of God seems to be an unnecessary pipe dream for the majority . . . And yet in know the certainty that Your kingdom comes – which I ask for every day in prayer – it helps to live differently, beautifully, true? Give me courage and the know how to share this hope that is within me . . .