18th June 2023
Reflection (readings are below)
“The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.”
The harvest – the fruits of our labour – and in terms of my current thoughts, all those good things we could achieve if we create – grow – a sustainable, green, biodiverse-rich world, is immense.
We could restore woodlands and forests, rivers and lakes and oceans – all things that have been achieved on the small scale and which could be scaled up given the will.
We could insulate homes against heat and cold. We could ensure all homes have clean water, sanitation and a supply of renewable energy. We could provide communities with green spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
We could ensure a healthy diet for everyone with regenerative farming techniques and a shift from animals based to plant based foods.
We could provide efficient and accessible public transport.
We could reuse and recycle the earth’s resources rather than over consuming them.
We could sustain local economies with local jobs, local shops, and local businesses.
The list goes on … The Earth Overshoot project each year assesses the date when we have consumed a year’s worth of the earth’s resources, and this year it is 2nd August. The project sets out solutions too, and their website features 93 case studies for numerous ways – big and small – by which that date can be pushed back to 31st December. You might find the web site a source of hope.
It would all be possible if we had enough people asking for it, if we had enough people challenging governments and businesses to take the ideas seriously, if we had enough people – and companies – willing to commit to changing the way they live and work, if we had enough people – and banks, and pension funds – willing to invest in this change.
The harvest could be very plentiful but so far the labourers are insufficient. Let us then ask the Lord for more labourers – and be willing to be part of the recruitment mission.
Sometimes when we hear predictions about the future – whether they are positive or negative – we can feel that what we are hearing is unbelievable. Can we really believe that human activities – principally the consumption of fossil fuels – could lead to a 4C rise in temperatures?
Can we really believe that climate change could lead to a rise in sea levels of a meter by the end of the century?
Can we really believe that cutting our meat consumption will help save the planet?
Can we really believe that switching from fossil to renewable energy could save the world £10 trillion?
Somethings do sound unbelievable – even when they are backed by facts! So perhaps we can empathise with Abraham and Sarah’s reaction when they are told they will, in their old age, have a son.
Yet if we pause and reflect, we realise that both Abraham and Sarah have a track record of trusting and acting upon what God reveals. They have left their home country, and their extended family, and set out into the unknown, trusting that this is what God has asked of them and that God will always be there with them. When the disciples respond to Jesus’s call, and leave behind jobs, homes and families, they are placing immense trust in him. That is the trust we need to cultivate. Trust that if we follow God’s lead, we can make the good news of the gospel a reality. Trust that we can make the world a green and sustainable and life enhancing place. We can put our faith in the words of the Lord’s Prayer, in asking that God’s ways hold sway here on earth as in heaven, that God’s kingdom will be paramount.
Sticking to that is hard, especially when the result are not instantaneous. Paul reminds us, in his letter to the community in Rome, that in the present state of world suffering is a reality but that enduring suffering does bring its own benefits of endurance and hope and love.
So let us take heart, gird up our loins, and follow God’s lead. Let us be willing messengers of the good news encouraging other too to take heart. Let us be willing labourers so that the harvest will indeed be plentiful.
Genesis 18:1-15
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10 How shall I repay the Lord *
for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.
12 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the Lord *
is the death of his servants.
14 O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.
16 I will fulfil my vows to the Lord *
in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the Lord’S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!
Romans 5:1-8
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person– though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Matthew 9:35-10:8
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.’
The Green Tau 