Shake it off. . . .

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." --Luke 10:2

(Full passage: Luke 10:1-11)

In case you hadn't noticed, Jesus loves a good metaphor. Sometimes, given the way our lives barely resemble those of his original audience-- or even the audience of a hundred years ago-- we need to slow down and look at what Jesus is saying between the lines (or sometimes, right in front of our faces, but while we are so busy looking for a deeper meaning we miss it!).

So here's Jesus, sending his disciples out two-by-two. And he compares the mission field to a harvest. Plentiful harvest, he says. Few workers for the harvest. 

Some people read that and decide it means we really need to get on it, already, and work really really hard and fast to save these souls. And yes, I think that may be a part of it. But let's look a little closer at this harvest metaphor.

Jesus does not tell his disciples that the whole field is ripe and in need of immediate pickin'. This is important, because from here, he goes on to explain how his followers are to determine the "ripeness" of the fruit.

Go to a house, he says, and offer peace. If the peace is returned, if hospitality is offered, then stay. Stay and enjoy the fellowship. And as you fellowship with one another, as you develop relationship, teach what Jesus has taught you. Offer love, healing-- hope. If you are feeling welcomed, stay awhile. 

On the other hand-- if you are not greeted in love, move on. Shake the dust from your robes and move on. 

Perhaps this fruit is not yet ripe. This is not the only tree in the orchard.

But here's something else: In both cases, with those who welcome and those who do not, Jesus' message to be delivered is the same. 

"The Kingdom of God is at hand."

I think some people use this as a threat. Repent now, or God's a-gonna get you. But that's not what I hear. (I could be wrong, but in this case, it's a chance I will take.)

The Kingdom, or Reign of God is at hand. Our God is a God of love. So the love of God is passing nearby. In the person of these disciples-- and in you and in me-- the message of "Love God, love one another" is made flesh. For those whose lives are ripe for belief and those who are still a little green and hard, perhaps a bit sour yet.

Everyone hears the message. We plant seeds for a future harvest. There may be no yield-- ever-- in our lifetime. But we plant and we plant and we plant, offering the message of a loving King to all who have ears. We never know when those ears may be ready to actually hear the message. (Works better still if we are living the message instead of just speaking it.)

And here's another thing I think is important about this harvest imagery:

One bad apple will not spoil the entire harvest.

One surly greeting should not deter us (for long) from continuing to offer the love of Christ with our very lives. 

And for those still struggling to believe-- one person whose message of "love" seems off-base or insensitive or excluding or ugly should not cause you to color all who follow Jesus with the same brush stroke. 

Harvest time. Much work to be done. And let's try not to bruise the fruit in the process.

Lord, you have loved us with an endless, perfect love. Help is, in our humanity, to offer the best love we can manage-- a kind word, a sandwich, perhaps a pair of shoes-- to all who cross our paths. Amen