Thoughts for the Day

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.......

Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sends me."

* A Deacon in an Anglican or Catholic Church always wear a stole across their body, until they are priested.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When we use the expression the 'Curate's egg', we mean that someone is good in parts. All new clergy are only partially trained when they come to work in the parish. They have completed their years in college but even if they have done a some placements in a parish, they have a lot to learn. They might have been a Teacher or Scientist in their former life, but they come into the church with many practical skills still to learn.

I know when I became a Deaconess (there were no women Deacons then), I thought I knew it all, but I soon realised I had a lot to learn, not just how to take a funeral or wedding, but how to mediate between people fighting over who should do the flowers by the font, as well as how to walk alongside those who were grieving! Then there was the 'Continuing Ministerial Education' training with other curates in the Diocese.

Our passage from Luke today reminds me of this time. Jesus is sending out 70 men in pairs, which tells us the number of his followers. The men are going to prepare the way for Jesus to take the Good News to this predominantly gentile area of the 'trans-Jordan'. He sends them in pairs for safety, and to give them more authority. He also instructs them on what to wear, what to carry, where to stay, and even warns them not to gossip with those they meet.

Jesus comments that there are few people to do this work. Today there is a slight increase in people seeking vocations to ministry. As a Vocation's Adviser I see people at this early stage, but we still need many more men and women to become priests and missionaries. Can you take time today to ask God to send more "labourers to the field"?

Heavenly Father,
we pray for the men and women
who minister in Your church
as deacons or priests,
and also for those in training.
We remember especially all those
who will be ordained this summer,
and we ask Your help in seeking
out fresh vocations to ministry.
Amen.