Nehemiah 8:1-12 / Luke 10:1-12 (2019)
Whenever we hear of this word "law", we may immediately have a few assumptions.
We might see the law as a restriction of our freedom and an obstacle to doing what we like.
Or we can see the law as giving us direction. It helps us to decide what is right and good, especially in the area of social order and morality.
In the 1st reading, we heard that when the people listened to the reading from the Book of the Law, they were in tears.
The Book of the Law refers to the Torah, which is the first 5 books of the Jewish scriptures, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
So the Book of the Law was not just about rules and regulations. It is also about God's love for his people and how He rescued them from slavery and danger.
The people were in tears because they realized how far short they were in keeping the Law especially in their unfaithfulness and sinfulness.
Yet when we understand the Book of the Law and the Bible as a testimony of God's love for us and how He would protect and save us, then we would be willing to be sent by Jesus as labourers of His harvest.
Yes, the harvest is rich but the labourers are few, but that is because we have yet to understand how much God loves us and that we need to witness to God's love for us to others.
Indeed the kingdom of God is very near to us. God's love is all around us. Let us labour to make known that love.