This weekend we celebrate the 4th of July. The first reading made me think about our country and how blest we are as a nation as the Prophet speaks about Jerusalem as he proclaims: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her all you who love her. Exult with her for thus says the lord: I will spread prosperity over her like a river and the wealth of nations, like an overflowing torrent. As a mother comforts her child so will I comfort you and when you see this, your heart will rejoice. We have truly been blessed as a Nation and we need to be grateful to the Lord for all he has done for us for our harvest has been abundant. Yesterday we also rejoiced as a young man Matthew Collie, now Fr Matthew was ordained to the priesthood. About 80 priests attended his ordination as another laborer entered the ministry to tend to the harvest. - An amazing day.   

Think about how often you heard this scripture passage from Luke’s Gospel The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Those in Door County who have cherry orchards or grapevines that need tending understand what this means for their crops. Whatever one’s occupation the product needs to be tended to if they are to be successful. When Jesus speaks about the harvest being plentiful he is talking about the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters and the obligation you and I have to care for their soul and to help them know right from wrong. We always hear about the twelve Apostles who followed Jesus but today Luke tells us about seventy-two others Jesus appointed whom he sent ahead in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. In other words they are the ones who are supposed to break the ice by preparing those they meet for the coming of Jesus so when he speaks to them they will be ready to hear what He says. This past week several people participated in a three-day retreat called entrust It was to help us become entrusted with the responsibility to help others to come closer to Jesus but what we also learned is that before we can evangelize others we need to be evangelized, before we can disciple others we need to be a disciple Pope Francis said: 

"To be a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others. This can happen at any time in any place, on the street in a city square, at home or during work or when we are traveling.  A disciple is a friend and a follower of Jesus. Those who follow Jesus, worship Jesus and those who worship Jesus, share their love of Jesus with others.  

I came across a story that happened many years ago to Catherine Doherty. Her cause for canonization was opened by John Paul II in 2000 when he declared her “a servant of God". She was born in Russia and is the founder of the Madonna House in Canada. She once worked as a waitress in a Manhattan bar. One night she told a group of soldiers and their girlfriends it was 4 o’clock in the morning and it was closing time and that she had somewhere to go. They asked her "what kind of place she would be going to at 4 o clock in the morning?" She told them it was Sunday and she was going to 5am mass at St Paul’s. One of them concluded: "Then this means you’re catholic." and she said she was. They said they were surprised - a catholic would work in a place like this - but what was more surprising is that they all went to mass with her. (you have to remember that his is in the early 1900's) A couple weeks later a young woman came up to her and said if you can live a good life while working in a place like this, then so can I - then she told her - she was going to confession

Catherine said another time she was able to evangelize -was when she was riding the subway. A women said to her, you look like a kind person would you mind talking to me for a while? She told Catherine how she was homebound and that a nurse would stop by once in a while to check on her and that someone would drop off food for her but they would never stay to visit with her - they would just leave and she mentioned how lonely she was. Catherine said that they not only visited all the while they were on the subway but that she invited her to join her at a coffee shop and that they became good friends. Catherine spoke about all those who are lonely - just want someone to visit them and that they will not know the love and mercy of Jesus unless someone shows them love and mercy. The harvest is rich but who is going to tend to it?Think about the opportunities that passed us by that could have brought the love of Jesus to someone if we just took the time to be with them. On the entrust retreat last week - we prayed a discipleship prayer. Listen to the words: 

"O Good Shepherd Jesus, help me to imitate you and reflect your image to others especially those I guide and serve Help me to think with your mind, to see with your eyes to hear with your ears and to speak the words you would speak Lord use me to carry out your mission as your servant and your disciple. Help me to carry out the work of your hands to be a voice for you in all I say and do. Merciful Shepherd Jesus, help me to live in you, to share generously in carrying your cross, so others may be saved by coming to know and love you - through my faithful witness to you."           

You and I need to meet people where they are if we hope to journey with them. We need to invite them to learn more about Jesus through the scriptures and invite them to worship with us. In the entrust program they used the Gospel story of the road to Emmaus where Jesus meets two men where they are at. He journeyed with them by first listening to them, and then he began to share the scriptures with them and told them how they had been fulfilled and finally he sat down with them and broke bread with them and after this encounter they came to know him in the breaking of the bread, Then everything made sense to them 

The harvest is ready but before we can find laborers to do the harvesting we need to help them understand why harvesting is important - we all need to be fed and we all need to grow in our faith but until we are fed ourselves we will not be able to feed others - because until we know about the message of Jesus will we be able to send others to tend it’s fruits only then will the harvest be plentiful. Jesus said follow me but only when we discover him can we follow him, Then we can make a difference -only then will we be able to lead others to him – Not until we learn how to think with his mind and see with his eyes and hear with his ears and speak with his words - can we help others - become laborers of the harvest  

This week we celebrate our independence, a freedom our forefathers were willing to fight for because they knew what freedom meant. Today we remember the many men and women who give up their lives so we could be free - but you and I have another battle we need to be willing to fight for the battle for eternal life and a victory will only come when we show the same loyalty to God the men and women had for our country. A loyalty they were willing to die for. Most people know freedom in our country is worth fighting for. Jesus wants us to know freedom for eternal life is worth fighting for - life in Gods kingdom. The harvest is ready, Be sure the laborers are ready - because no one wants to be left behind so let’s not only protect our freedom as Americans but let’s protect our freedom as Christians. We need to tend to the harvest so when Jesus comes we can stand before him with the brothers and sisters of the harvest we were asked to bring with us We ask God to bless America as Christians we must show an appreciation of his blessings by becoming a laborer in his vineyard, as a laborer we need to help others know what Jesus expects of us because what’s at stake is eternal freedom, so live your lives morally, justly and lovingly and you will be truly free!