“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” (Lk 10:2-3)
This passage reminds us how we are called to spread the Gospel. It’s not reserved for a handful of extraordinary individuals — every single one of us are supposed to do it — even if we’re on vacation (that is, if you are actually going somewhere this summer!) Jesus tells us to “… pray the Lord of harvest” (Matt. 9:38). and prayer is vital, because in spreading the Gospel’s message it’s God who works through us. We are but humble instruments in his hands.
1Be prayerful
Vacation time can be an occasion to meet new people. And if we in the evening it is a chance to pray for all those we’ve encountered that day. This is doubly important — first, because God always listens to what we have to say and grants our prayer (sometimes in ways we can’t see), and second, because it’s a good way to teach our kids how to see that every person they meet is a child of God. Prayer must always come before we act.
2Be a witness
Before we begin sharing the message of Christ with anyone, however, we must first be an example of a good Christian. It’s by the love we show others that people can see we are Christians. In this way, they can encounter God, and begin to know what it means to be one of His followers.
3Be honest
To spread the message of Christ, we must also be honest, calling things by their real names and bearing witness to the Truth. In a discussion with new friends — even if they’re atheist or agnostic, or while answering a question of a child — we must not hide our beliefs or water down the truth. We must proclaim our faith, share what the Holy Spirit has revealed to us, and teach our children to do the same. We must be honest even when it requires courage, and proclaim our faith in all simplicity. We also need to show our deepest respect for those around us, because they, too, are the beloved children of God.
4Look for opportunities
To spread the message of Christ, we must create opportunities to speak about God. This is not to imply that every one of us has been called to preach in the public square or on a public beach. But we’re all invited to be more attentive to what God is asking us to do. Perhaps we’re simply called to lend God a hand in helping someone turn back to Him. Your elderly father may find his way back to God if your children invite him to attend Sunday Mass with them. Maybe a couple you meet will decide to baptize their baby if you talk to them in a friendly and respectful manner. Perhaps a rebellious teenager may see the light, if you share with them the love and joy that reign in your own family.
Jesus tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Lk 10:2). So, let us pray and go to work, even if we’re on vacation!
Christine Ponsard
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