11/10 – Luke 10:1-12 – The Harvest is Upon Us

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Soon you will enter and take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as as inheritance. When you have settled there, take some of the first produce harvested from the fields in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the Lord your God will choose for his name to live. Go to the priest who is serving at that time, and tell him, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land that the Lord is giving us, as he swore to our ancestors.” Then the priest will take the basket from you and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God.

You will make this formal statement in the presence of the Lord your God: “My ancestors were wandering Arameans. There were only a few of them when they went to Egypt and lived as foreigners, but then they became a great, powerful, and large nation. So the Egyptians treated us cruelly, oppressed us, and gave us hard labor. We cried out to the Lord God of our ancestors, and he heard us. He saw our misery, suffering, and oppression. Then the Lord used his mighty hand and powerful arm to bring us out of Egypt. He used spectacular and awesome deeds, miraculous signs, and amazing things. He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. So now I have brought the first produce harvested from the fields you gave me, Lord.”

You will place the basket in the presence of the Lord your God and bow down in front of him. Then you, the Levites, and the foreigners who live among you will enjoy all the good things which the Lord your God has given you and your family.

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Remember this: The one who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest, but the one who plants because he has received God’s blessings will receive a harvest of God’s blessings in return. Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You should not be sorry that you gave, or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver. God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness. Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things. Scripture says, “The person with God’s approval gives freely to the poor. The things he does with God’s approval continue forever.”

God gives seed to the farmer and food to those who need to eat. God will also give you seed and multiply it. In your lives he will increase the things you do that have his approval. God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us. What you do to serve others not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but also produces more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God.

You will honor God through this genuine act of service because of your commitment to spread the Good News of Christ and because of your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else. With deep affection they will pray for you because of the extreme kindness that God has shown you. I thank God for his gift that words cannot describe.

Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-12

The Lord appointed 72 other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs. He told them, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few, so ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops. Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don’t stop to greet anyone on the way. Whenever you go into a house, greet them with the words, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted, but if that is not the case, your greeting will be rejected. Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. The worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another.

Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you. Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, ‘God’s kingdom is near you!’, but whenever you go into a city and people don’t welcome you, leave. Announce in its streets, ‘We are wiping your city’s dust from our feet in protest against you! Nevertheless realize that the kingdom of God is near you!’ I can guarantee that judgment day will be easier for Sodom than for that city.