Seven year old David was spending Saturday with his grandfather. He always had fun with Grandpa. Well, this one day, David was in his inquisitive mode. He started asking all sorts of questions, including, “Grandpa, what happens when you die?”
Now his Grandpa was only in his early fifties and had not done a whole lot of thinking about dying, but he answered the question the best he could. He told David that when people die they go before God, and if they have lived their lives the best they could, God unites them to himself forever in heaven.
“Grandpa, does that mean that when you die you won’t be here anymore?” His Grandfather said, “Yes, David, I won’t be here anymore.”
“Does that mean you won’t be able to play catch with me anymore?” he asked. “Yes, David, I won’t be able to play catch with you.”
“And you won’t be able to fly a kite with me?” Grandpa replied, “That’s right, David.”
“And you won’t take me fishing?”
“No, Buddy, I won’t.”
“Well,” David asked, “who’s going to do those things if you can’t?” Grandpa responded, “David, hopefully when that time comes, it will be your turn to do all those things and more for another little boy.”
That I imagine is what Jesus had in mind as he looked out at the crowds in today’s gospel. He had been traveling around from town to town, proclaiming the good news and curing every disease and illness. What we witness is a turning point in his ministry. Jesus now sees that no one person can bandage every wound, soothe every hurt, or stem the advance of every disease. He realizes the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. What happened next was a commencement, complete with a speech in which twelve imperfect disciples were commissioned by him to go forth and proclaim to anyone who would listen that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Were they the best that God had to work with? Not really. Jesus could have chosen a dozen Pharisees and Sadducees, holy men who knew the commandments and scriptures like the back of their hands, but he didn’t. In spite of their shortcomings, our presence here is a testimony that the apostles and countless others who followed them succeeded in carrying out the mission Jesus entrusted to them.
Jesus said, “Without cost, you have received; without cost you are to give.” It is only natural and right then for us to continue sharing the faith we have received from our parents and mentors. There are many Davids out there who need someone to tell them to distinguish right from wrong as others taught us to choose well. There are a lot of Davids who need someone to tell them that God is with them, like others who taught us to treasure the presence of God in our lives. There are plenty of Davids who need someone to give them hope, just as others have given us hope.
Back in biblical times, speech was the main means of communication. The written word existed, but paper was expensive. Most people learned through word of mouth, the words of traveling teachers or preachers. Even in our day of emails, facebook, and cell phones, nothing surpasses face to face, that is, word of mouth in efficacy. Anyone in sales knows this. So do those of you who have children. Grandpa is right. We have to talk to our children. We have to give them what we received, and that includes what we’ve learned about Jesus.
We have to talk to our neighbors as well, including those who are lapsed Catholics or unbaptized. We have to teach them the Hope of the Lord, namely, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. We have to give them what we receive. As Christians, our responsibility is to spread the Gospel of Christ.
As Jesus said, the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Why is that? Is it because we think others should do the work? Do we think that we are not good enough? Who is? Are we afraid to be apostles? We shouldn’t be. Jesus called us with the Gospel and he empowers us with the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel.
Faith is the key to carrying out this mission. Our faith is alive. Our faith is vital. Our faith is strong and it is dynamic. For the many Davids in our lives, let us pray for the courage to share this Gift of Faith with others.