The Harvest is Abundant

Gospel Reading for Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 - Matthew 9:32-38

Today we see the tenderness of Christ as He moves through towns, healing the broken and proclaiming the Kingdom. We see that “at the sight of the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.”

It is then that He turns to the disciples and says “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

This is not just a pastoral concern, it is a two-fold call to action.

You see, every baptized Catholic shares in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. We are called to proclaim the truth, to serve with humility, and love. We are called to fast and pray. We are called to labor in the vineyard, to till the soil, to prepare the harvest. Our role as the laity is necessary and powerful if lived in love and faith.

Yet, even as we live out this crucial mission, our baptism realized in a life given over fully to Christ, the Church deeply depends on the unique role of ordained priests — those who feed us with the Eucharist, reconcile us with God, and shepherd us through life and death. Without them, the sheep remain scattered, and abandoned. Without them, the harvest suffers.

And Christ didn’t say to despair over the shortage. He said pray.

To “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” and so the second part of this call is to pray. Pray for holy, courageous men who will say “yes” to His call.

Today, may we renew our prayers for priestly vocations, and may we also live out our own baptismal call with fidelity — offering our lives, proclaiming the truth, and serving as Christ served.

The harvest is indeed abundant. May we not be idle in the field.

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
“Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said,
“He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
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.”