First Saturday of Advent

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.  Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Jesus reminds us that without cost we have received his love, mercy, and grace and in order to be his disciples, we are to give these to others without cost. God’s love for us is unconditional. His mercy is inexhaustible. His grace is ever present. In the same way, we should be loving, merciful, and full of grace toward all whom we meet. We are all called to be laborers for the harvest of souls and although we might not have miraculous powers, we can be instruments of God’s Will in everything we do. We can go into the world and proclaim the kingdom through our humble words and self-sacrificing works. God has given each of us the powers we need to be Godbearers in this world. We have only to accept the mantle and do everything within our power to be good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

Are we willing to labor for the kingdom of God? Do our thoughts, words, and works proclaim the Good News? Do we give ourselves to others without counting the cost?

O Lord, you have given us everything. Let us give everything to others in the same spirit of generosity.

Amen.