Lent 2023 – Day Thirteen – Luke 10 v 1 – 24

by Chris Hancock · Published March 6, 2023 · Updated March 11, 2023

Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.

We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.

You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 17 minutes);
You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 5 minutes);
You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
any combination of the above.

However you choose to use them we hope you will find them helpful and thought provoking.

Full Audio of today’s reflection including Bible reading (approx 17 minutes).

Audio of Reflection and shortened prayers (approx 6 mins).

Read Luke Chapter 10 Verses 1-24. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.

Link to the Bible Gateway NIV version (opens in a new tab)

“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”

We follow the vision of the transfiguration with a widening of the circle of disciples and the work of the Kingdom.

Our passage today is a harsh lesson for us. How do we steward our resources? Jesus tells his disciples to go where people will listen and welcome them. What does this mean for us today as we work out our “strategies for evangelism” in a seemingly disinterested world.

We are called to love all of our neighbours but it is true that we are stretched thin and so perhaps the strategy is right to go to those who show some interest in hearing and learning more about God. In that way we will build up the workers so that there is an increase in the amount of people we can interact with. We see this in our gospel so far as we have moved from the 12 to the 72 as those joining Jesus’ group of followers increases so does the amount of spreading of the gospel message.

I was struck by the thought that if we had two fields one rocky and difficult to use and the other a fertile and easy to cultivate. We would first ensure that the fertile field was fully productive and by doing so this would give us the ability to employ others to help us to clear the rocky field and prepare it so that it too would become productive.

I interpret this as both fields are important, both can be productive but there is an order in which they should be approached. It is no use exhausting yourself on the rocky field and being unable to look after the fertile field as a result. Both fields are as important as each other and both fields can be productive. Jesus is perhaps in today’s passage telling us to expend our energy where we can be most effective. That does not mean ignoring the rocky place but it is a slow process moving rocks and we should not be disheartened by the length of time it takes.

This Lent take time to think about the work you do in God’s service. Find the good fields and double your efforts but do not ignore the rocky field. Continue to work there but do not exhaust yourself to the detriment of the places you are needed to be fruitful.

Hymn: Singing the Faith 130 – “We plough the fields and scatter”.

Contemplation Words

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (v 2 NIV)

Let us pray together.

Contemplative Prayer

Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart,

Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers.

Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers.

Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.

Twitter Prayer

Loving God we offer ourselves as your willing workers. show us the fertile fields but do not let us forget that there is work to do even in the stony places. Amen

Facebook Prayer

Lord send me out so that I may speak of your great love. Help me not to be disheartened but to see the places where I can be most effective in your service. Unexpected places, different places even rocky places. Help me to remember that you have told us that the harvest is plentiful and let that inspire me to draw more workers into your service that none of that great harvest will be lost. Amen

Full Prayer

Lord this is a difficult passage. We never want to shake the dust off of our feet and walk away. Feeling that we have been a failure and not good enough to make a difference. Help us to remember that all things are done in your time and that the results of our service may never be know to us. Help us to rejoice in all that we do, for we do it in your all powerful name.

Lead us to the places and opportunities we desire to speak of you. Help us to sow in fertile ground and where the ground is rocky help us to clear those rocks so that the fragile shoots of faith may be released to full and plentiful fruitfulness. Amen

Copyright Notices

Reflections and Prayers

By Chris Hancock

Hymns

Hymn words where displayed are in the Public Domain. Hymn organ recordings where used are from Small Church Music. Copyright notice: Rev. Clyde McLennan, performer in this collection, has assigned his performer rights in this collection to Hymnary.org. Non-commercial use of these recordings is permitted. Other hymns are from YouTube and covered by YouTube copyright processes.

Bible Readings

Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Images

Images where used are from pixabay.com and free for commercial use no attribution required.

Background Music

The background music in today’s recordings is: Music from Pixabay Relaxing Music Vol.12 – Relaxing Time slightly edited by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.

Sound Effect from Pixabay Andrew kn – At the edge of space II – Re-mixed and tinkered with by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.