The good shepherd
Matthew Chapters 8 – 9
As we read through a collection of healing stories we come to one of my personal favorite scriptures about Jesus. While it lacks the drama of a healing, it is something I can relate to.
In 9:36 we read that Jesus had compassion on the crowds, for they were “harassed and helpless,” like sheep without a shepherd.
While I understand the analogy, I’ll never know exactly what it feels like to be a sheep without a shepherd. “Harassed and helpless” is a feeling I can relate to, though, with no imagination required—I’ve been there all too often.
I imagine it’s something that everyone has felt at one time or another: the sense that no matter what you do, it isn’t enough, yet people and circumstances keep demanding more.
It’s interesting what Jesus tells his disciples to do about the harassed and helpless. He tells them the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, so to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.
He doesn’t demand they work harder (or even smarter). He doesn’t tell them to find more workers. No, he tells them to ask the lord of the harvest for more workers: essentially to pray for others who can share the burden.

Friday meditation

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Prayer focus
Lord of the harvest, we get overwhelmed looking at the work that needs to be done. Send out workers to help us in your fields.

-Rev. Mark Fleming