06/17/2026
"Whether life feels joyful and carefree right now or things are a bit challenging and uncertain in your life, there is incredible opportunity and grace to be found in simply being present..." Sue Switalski shares her reflection on this weekend's Gospel.
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I really love when the days get longer and hotter, when flowers and veggies begin to grow, bringing beauty and abundance in the months ahead. When I was growing up, my dad took great pride in his garden. There was never any shortage of tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers in our house! By mid-summer, they were part of almost every meal.
The image of my dad’s garden came to mind as I reflected on the word “harvest” in this Sunday's Gospel. Jesus looks at the crowds with compassion and says, "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38). I believe Jesus is trying to get us to understand the urgency of the moment. The fields are ready. The opportunity is right there waiting for us! Just like my dad’s untilled garden every spring! The invitation Jesus is presenting to us is to notice, to respond, and to participate in God's work. What a glorious invitation.
Summer also reminds me how quickly time passes. We wait all year for these warm months, and before we know it, the school supplies return to store shelves, the leaves begin to change, instead of “Here we go, Brewers” it’s time for “Go Pack Go” and another season has slipped by. I think that the feeling of a quick passing of summer can teach us something if we are open to it.
When we notice the people we love, the moments we share, and the opportunities to experience God's presence in creation, they become gifts from God that deserve our attention right now, in this moment, not someday. After all, I think someone once said, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.”
As you experience the summer months, I invite you to consider making space to pause, reflect, celebrate, and immerse yourself in the people and beauty that surrounds you. Whether life feels joyful and carefree right now or things are a bit challenging and uncertain in your life, there is incredible opportunity and grace to be found in simply being present. Feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, enjoying a morning cup of coffee, listening to children laugh and play outside, watching a sunset, or taking a deep breath of fresh air can remind us of the magnificent creation God has entrusted to us. Even as I write these words, an awesome summer storm is rumbling outside my window reminding me of the beauty and wonder of God's world.
Perhaps this summer, the labor Jesus calls us to is not only found in grand acts of service but also in cultivating hearts of gratitude and awareness. When we intentionally notice God's blessings, when we cherish the people around us, search intently for good, and pause long enough to recognize moments of grace, we are planting seeds of gratitude, wonder, and faith. Just think of what that harvest will become!
And just as my dad’s garden produced tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers that fed our big family, the seeds we plant today with our thoughts, our actions, and our words can yield a rich harvest in the future. (Unfortunately, planting negativity and discourse also has its results – and it ain’t too great). Months and years from now, we may be blessed to find ourselves gathering the fruits of this season. Maybe they’ll include memories of loved ones, moments of laughter, unexpected blessings, and reminders of God's faithful presence. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even get to enjoy a homegrown tomato or two.
My hope this summer is that we can tend these summer days as well as we can in the moments we are given and trust that the seeds we sow now will become a harvest worth celebrating.
God's Peace,
Sue Switalski
Interim Adult Formation Coordinator
