I'm intrigued by ... 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. ... I don't really understand what this means.
My best guess -- which not likely much better than yours -- is that the "others who have laboured" are the prophets from the Hebrew scriptures. The prophets sowed the seeds, tended the fields, and Jesus' disciples reap the harvest.
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'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. ...
Crystal,
“One sows and another reaps” to me hints at casting seeds – seeds of God’s presence and love that lie in Jesus’ message so that others may reap this bounty. However, the benefit comes to both the sower and harvester, as we find as much joy in giving and 'being' love as in receiving it.
Re: “Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor” may refer to the Old Testament prophets and to John the Baptist, who paved the way for the gospel. However, another meaning may be in the hard work one does to open up – to open your heart to this presence and embody this message of God’s love for others. Can you recall a spiritual director or priest or friend whose God's light seemed to just radiate through them, filling you with awe and comfort? Who benefits from another’s graceful presence? I surely have experienced it. Being in the presence of and receiving this grace is a joyful feeling I will never forget.
We reap the love that others have had for us since birth, and we sow love for those who come after us. However this is not simply temporal.
Hi Marjorie, Larry, David ... thanks for responding.
Is it in the old testament where it says that you will reap what you sew? Maybe Jesus is pointing out that things are different now? It reminds me of something that spiritual directors once wrote about the kingdom of God ... (yes, you're so right, Marjorie) ... he said as example, one student studied hard all night for the test and the other went out and partied - both passed the test ... I still don't get that but it sounds somehow relevant :-)
Sorry - meant party-ed ... how to edit these posts??? :-)
Thank you, but it wasn't me, it was Meredith...
Sorry Marjorie ... I must be thinking of you a lot! :-). Hopefully I haven't offended you or Meredith by mixing up your names so often - hmmm, what would Freud say about this?
Very nice. Keep up the good work.
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