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<\/a><\/h3>\n\u201cBlessed are the eyes that see what you see.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nWe follow the vision of the transfiguration with a widening of the circle of disciples and the work of the Kingdom.<\/p>\n
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.<\/div>\n
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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.<\/div>\n
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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.<\/div>\n
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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.<\/div>\n
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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.<\/div>\n
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Hymn: Singing the Faith 130 – “We plough the fields and scatter”.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/a>We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.<\/p>\n