I am wondering how farmers would describe their fields during these days.  The harvest is spread across the land. Is there a phrase that captures what they see as their eyes scan the various crops? Do they have a particular phrase they use, to indicate it is time to harvest a crop?  When I see a crop of mustard it is easy to see the yellow and know what it is, but I am not sure I would know when it is time to harvest.  The same with my favourite, fresh corn. I see that it has grown but is there something about the plant that indicates to the farmer that it is ripe for harvest, ready to be picked?  I suppose I could ask my cousin at Thames River Melons Farm what are the indicators that the melons in the field are ready – besides cutting one open!

In the days of Jesus, the word ‘white’ was an indicator that the harvest was ready. The crops had turned white on their tips and so ‘the fields are white for harvest’ was a commonly used phrase (John 4:35).  Jesus uses this phrase after his encounter with the woman at the well in the heat of the day.  She went in the heat of the day to escape the glares of those who knew what her ‘sinful’ life was all about.  Others would come in the cool of the morning. Through a rare conversation, Jew speaking to Samaritan and Jesus, a man, speaking to her, a woman, she comes to believe in who he is – the Messiah.  In her conviction, and through this life-bringing conversation that has captured her soul, she goes and shares of her experience with all who will listen.  The Bible records that “many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did,’” (John 4:39).

At the time of this conversation the fields were not white.  The harvest was still four months away (35).  But Jesus says to his disciples who join him, ‘I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!  They are white for harvest” (35).  What the disciples did not realize, because they joined Jesus at the end of his conversation with this unlikely woman, was that he had planted an incredible seed of life in this woman and that life was about to pour our into the lives of others.  Harvest, of true life and life eternal was on its way and it would happen in only a few days!  Jesus had spoken and where Jesus speaks life is offered and shaped and a harvest accompanies.

For some crops we still await the harvest, but as followers of Jesus there is a harvest we are not waiting for.  We are not waiting for routines and schedules so that we can return to ‘harvesting’ as we once did.  We are not simply surviving until the end of the pandemic so we can return to how we once lived as believers and as the church, getting back to what we felt was harvesting.  The fields are ‘white unto harvest’ today.  The harvest comes as the words of Jesus are shared and as the woman at the well shows us, it came through sharing truth of her own personal story with those who lived near to her.   The harvest is today!  The fields are white! God’s Word of life is going forth!  We sing this song easily on many a Sunday but this week may we find ourselves singing it each day of the week, especially the words of verse two.

DAYS OF ELIJAH

These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the Words of the Lord.
And these are the days of your servant, Moses.
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still we are a voice in the desert crying
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”

Behold he comes riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.

There's no God like Jehovah, there's no God like Jehovah,
There's no God like Jehovah, there's no God like Jehovah,
There's no God like Jehovah, there's no God like Jehovah,
There's no God like Jehovah, there's no God like Jehovah,
There's no God like Jehovah.

These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of your servant, David,
Rebuilding the temple of praise,
And these are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in your world,
And we are the laborers in the vineyard,
Declaring the Word of the Lord.
             Words & Music by Robin Mark

God of seedtime and harvest, for the fields ripe with the harvest we enjoy, that makes its way to our tables we say thank you.  For the farmers and all those who work to get the produce from the land to our mouths we are abundantly grateful.  Today, for the harvest that comes from the food that you give this world through your word, we rejoice. May we be your vessels; sowers of seeds, and harvesters, as we share our story of life found in you with others.   AMEN

With care and in prayer,