Sometimes it seems as if our world is collapsing around us. Nothing seems to be going right and we can feel overwhelmed and discouraged. The people of Israel felt that way - their homeland had been destroyed and they had been taken captive and led into exile in Babylon. Isaiah comforted them: God had not abandoned them. They had learned their lesson and now God would restore them and remove their suffering. The lesson: God can be trusted, and God never abandons us. Our response should always be faith and trust.

Jesus saw so many people hungering for comfort, hope, and a sense of God's loving presence. In other words, the situation then was much like it is today. His response was unceasing compassion. He sent others to speed along the work. Their job was to keep moving and to travel lightly, depending only on the support of others. They were to heal and comfort, but most of all to announce that God was very near. Jesus sends us today to bring hope and comfort to others, and we too must travel quickly and lightly, both individually and as a Church. So much depends on us. Jesus noted that the harvest was ready but the laborers few. Labourers are those with the love and commitment to forget self and to live a life of loving and humble service. The world waits for us each day. Will we respond to the call?