Harvest in Provence
Vincent van Gogh, 1888
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
therefore ask the Lord of the harvest
to send out laborers into his harvest."
- Matthew 9:37-38

My dear friends,

Matthew 9:35-10:23 tells us about the compassion of Jesus and the mission he gave to his twelve apostles.

Jesus, in this passage, is described as going through all the towns and villages, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and healing every disease and sickness. This is a powerful image of the deep compassion that Jesus had for all beings, and his commitment to alleviating their suffering.

Followers of Jesus are called to emulate this compassion and to work to alleviate the suffering of others. This is not always an easy task, and Jesus warns his disciples that they will face opposition and persecution in their mission. But he also assures them that they will be given the words to speak when the time comes.

In Buddhism as well, compassion is seen as the heart of the spiritual path. We are called to cultivate compassion for all beings, to see their suffering as our own, and to work tirelessly to alleviate it.

The Bodhisattva path, in particular, is a path of service and sacrifice. Like the disciples of Jesus, bodhisattvas are called to go out into the world and alleviate the suffering of others. This can be a daunting task, but like Jesus, bodhisattvas are assured that they will be given the wisdom and skillful means to do so.

In this passage, Jesus also warns his disciples about the challenges they will face, telling them that they will be like sheep among wolves. This is a powerful image that speaks to the challenges we face when we try to live a life of compassion and service in a world that is often hostile to such values.

I also want to remind you that despite these challenges, the path of compassion and service is one of great joy and fulfillment. When we cultivate compassion and work to alleviate the suffering of others, we are not only helping others, but we are also helping ourselves. We are cultivating the qualities of love, compassion, and wisdom that bring deep meaning and purpose to our lives.

So my dear friends, let us take inspiration from the example of Jesus and his disciples, and from the teachings of the bodhisattva path. Let us cultivate compassion and work to alleviate the suffering of others, knowing that despite the challenges we may face, this is a path of great joy and fulfillment. May we all be blessed on our journey towards greater compassion and service.