Urgency in the Orchard

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” — Matthew 9:37–38 (NIV)

Thanks to our beekeeping neighbor, our apple tree produced abundant fruit this year. We could tell in the spring simply by the number of buds that it was going to be a bountiful harvest. We witnessed the full cycle from buds to blossoms to nascent fruit to beautiful red delicious apples.

Once the mature apples were ready, there was an urgency to the picking. The birds would get some, and other creatures would pick fallen fruit off the ground. Wait too long, and the fruit is gone—or spoiled. 

The same is true for people. Not in a fearful way, but in a tender one. There are lives ready for love, healing, and hope—right now.

Jesus saw the same urgency—not in orchards, but in crowds longing for healing and hope.

At the time of Jesus, the world population hovered around 200 million. Today, it’s over 8.2 billion. That’s a harvest 40 times larger than when Jesus first spoke these words. 

In the United States alone, we have over 340 million people, and more than 75 million identify as religiously unaffiliated. That’s not just absence from church, but often a longing for meaning, connection, and grace.

This harvest isn’t abstract—it’s personal. It’s the neighbor who’s lonely, the teen questioning their worth, the elderly person wondering if they’re still seen. And like the apples, this harvest is here now. It won’t wait forever. 

Jesus doesn’t ask us to fix everything. He asks us to pray—and to be willing. To notice the ripeness around us. To trust that the Spirit is already at work. We are the workers. Called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, to show his love, and to invite them into his kingdom. The harvest is ready—and the time is now.

Lord of the harvest, open our eyes to the people around us—those longing for connection, healing, and hope. Send us, not as experts, but as companions. Give us courage to speak, gentleness to listen, and joy in the gathering. May we not miss the fruit that’s ready today. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim