Jan. 20 - Bringing in the Sheaves

Greetings beloved,

Okay, I promise that today is the last day that we'll spend commenting on chapter 4 of the Gospel of St. John.

After Jesus' dialogue with the Samaritan woman she left to tell others she had found the Messiah, and the disciples arrived back at the well with food and urged Him to eat. Jesus declined saying to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:34,35).

When Jesus looked out over this world He didn't see a world of no good, wicked people with no hope. Instead, He saw a world full of sinners ready to be harvested for God's kingdom. Jesus saw potential in us; potential to become children of the Living God, and that's the reason He was sent. Jesus charges His disciples with the task of 'Bringing in the Sheaves' when He says to them, "...he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors" (John 4:36-38).

It takes a team of farm workers to produce a crop. In the grape business one group plants, another dresses the vines, a third group does the picking. All have the satisfaction of contributing to the final product. Likewise, when a person is lead to accepting Christ as their Savior, the harvest is only the final step in the process. As Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out into the harvest and labor, so too are we under the same charge.

Bringing in the Sheaves is a popular Protestant hymn. The lyrics were written in 1874 by Knowles Shaw, who was inspired by Psalm 126:6, "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Shaw also wrote music for these words, but they are now usually set to a tune by George Minor, written in 1880 and the lyrics succinctly sum up the responsibility of every Christian.

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Are you Bringing in the Sheaves?

Pray with me... Heavenly Father, we ask that you help us to see the same potential in others as You do in us, and inspire within us a sincere desire to labor in Your fields which are ready for harvesting. Help us to be productive and teach us to Bring in the Sheaves. In Christ Jesus' holy name we pray. AMEN!

God's blessings to you all,
Fr. Ernest+