“Their sturdy backs bent down, by labor and fatigue, their eyes intent upon the earth, sift through stubble discarded by the reapers.”

—Sister Michaela O’Connor

Sunday Scripture Reflection for September 29, 2024
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.” These and other words of this Sunday’s readings are tough ones to hear. As Holy Family Sisters, we have since our founding used as our symbol Millet’s painting of The Gleaners — we see ourselves reaching out to those who are not served by the other organizations around us. Millet’s painting is one of a great many artistic images of gleaners from the nineteenth century, and they were intended as social statements against the rich landowners who amassed wealth while their workers did not have enough to live, and the gleaners were protected by law so they would have at least a little food for their families. We see these pictures today as lovely representations of rural life, but they are accusations. James seems to ask in Sunday’s second reading, “How can some become wealthy when others do not have enough to eat?”