If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot.

Matthew 9: 32-38

36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

During every Mass, in our parish, we pray Archbishop Schnurrs' prayer for vocations.  It's a really cool prayer, asking not only for priests and religious, but for all faithful vocations.  Part of that prayer includes this:

Grant us the grace to know the path

You have planned for us in this life

and to respond with a generous “Yes.”

Every time we pray that prayer the last part of our Gospel reading comes to mind. So much so, in fact, that on occasion I find myself looking around the Church at the people around me. 

My late uncle used say, whenever a daunting task was at hand, "If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot."  And I think Jesus was saying something similar here in Matthew. I also think that is part of the heart of the Archbishops' prayer too. 

If we look around we don't have to look far to see need.  Our families need, our friends, our communities, our country, our world.  The field is plentiful for the work.  It can be overwhelming.  No one person could possibly do it all.  The cool part about that...we don't have to, and we don't have to try to do it all either.

All we have to do, is our little. 

What are you specifically called to?  I can't say, you need to pray to ask God to show you.  What I can tell you is that we are ALL called to some specific things, and if we do even just a little, we are doing a lot.

We are all called to share the Gospel.  We are all called to love each other as He loved us.  We are all called to do for the 'least of these'.  We are all called to seek God in all things.  (Just to name a few.) 

If we help one another, a little at a time, not only do we gather the harvest, but we gather more laborers to help harvest.  St. Mother Theresa said:

Can we respond with a generous "YES!" 

Just some food for thought and prayer.

Here I am, Lord, send me!

Lisa Brandel