Matthew 9:34-38: a reflection

34But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.” 35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”

As Jesus goes through the towns and villages, teaching, preaching, and healing, he looks at the crowds, and is moved with compassion. Why? Because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He sees them not as a faceless mass, but as lost and troubled people, in need of a shepherd, and his heart goes out to them. And out of that compassion he says to his disciples: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.

Notice both Jesus' compassion and his call. His compassion: he looked at the harassed, helpless crowds, and his heart was moved; he saw their lostness, their need of a shepherd, and cared. And his call, flowing from that compassion: the harvest is plentiful, the laborers few; pray for laborers. The multitude of lost and troubled people is a plentiful harvest, and it moves Jesus' heart; and he calls his people to pray that laborers be sent to gather it. Compassion for the lost, and prayer for laborers, go together.

Both are worth taking to heart. First, Jesus' compassion: he looked at the crowds and saw not a faceless mass but harassed, helpless people, in need of a shepherd, and his heart was moved. Let his compassion shape yours; look at the crowds around you not with indifference, but with the compassion of Jesus, seeing their lostness and need. And second, his call: pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers. The harvest of lost and troubled people is plentiful; and Jesus calls us to pray for laborers to be sent into it. Let Jesus' compassion for the lost move your own heart; and take up his call to pray for laborers for the plentiful harvest. The crowds are still harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd; look on them with the compassion of Jesus, and pray, as he commanded, for laborers to be sent into his plentiful harvest.

Lord Jesus, as you went through the towns teaching and healing, you looked at the crowds and were moved with compassion, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd; and out of that compassion you said, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest. Help me take both to heart. First, your compassion: you looked at the crowds and saw not a faceless mass but harassed, helpless people, in need of a shepherd, and your heart was moved. Let your compassion shape mine; help me look at the crowds around me not with indifference, but with your compassion, seeing their lostness and need. And second, your call: pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers. The harvest of lost and troubled people is plentiful; and you call me to pray for laborers to be sent into it. Let your compassion for the lost move my own heart; and help me take up your call to pray for laborers for the plentiful harvest. The crowds are still harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd; help me look on them with your compassion, Lord, and pray, as you commanded, for laborers to be sent into your plentiful harvest.