A sailing boat without a sail will become becalmed and will drift along with the prevailing current. It may still look elegant, even majestic, but it has no purposeful direction. 

The gospel today is certainly not without direction. Jesus is sending his followers out with very clear instructions to make the reign of God become real in the lives of people. He instructs his followers to bring them, His peace, and not to be deterred if their gift is rejected. Move on with passion and commitment.

I wonder if we stop to think that we receive these same instructions every time we participate in the Eucharist. This story did not just happen in the past. At each Eucharist we are reminded that we are called by him, fed by him and sent to proclaim in, deed and word, the good news. We are all labourers in the harvest.

So, the challenge for us, is to take seriously the command to go out and be passionate and committed to our work in the harvest.

Routine and familiarity can numb our understanding of just what each Eucharist commands us to be and do. The question for us this Sunday is quite confronting, are we becalmed by routine and drift along with the prevailing current, or are we fired up on mission to go into the harvest and bring the good news to all?

May the direction at end of the Eucharist ‘Go in peace to Love and Serve the Lord’ inspire us to take seriously our vocation as labourers for the reign of God.

Good Luck!

By Sr Anne Surtees osu