A Reading
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ (Matthew 9: 35-38)
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. (Luke 24:25)
A Thought
Our rewilded garden plot has been looking decidedly scruffy. The grass towers over the few flowers that have taken root, and we really need a sickle bar mower and tractor to cut the whole lot at the base for hay.
But we don’t have either. Neither did they during biblical times. Instead, they had sickles and men.
Rather unexpectedly, our youngest son returned home this week for a 3 day break from work. Mindful of the gospel reading, I seized the opportunity and directed him to the cutting tools and rake.
We now look out onto a ragged and untidy blend of long grass, shorter grass and fewer flowers. We still need a sickle bar mower and tractor to finish the job properly.
Checking back to the bible passages that follow, I find that Jesus sends his disciples out on a training mission to improve their skills and understanding. Ooops! Maybe I too should have provided a guiding hand.
My learning point is that it is not appropriate to take short passages from the bible and to interpret them in a vacuum, ignoring what comes before and after. Therein lies all sorts of troublesome interpretations.
A prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for your written Word and the mighty truths it contains.
We pray in the power of your Holy Spirit,
that you will open our hearts and minds to the truths that you wish us to see.
Amen