And He said to them: Certainly the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest. (Lk 10:2)
ἔλεγεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς, Ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς πολύς, οἱ δὲ ἐργάται ὀλίγοι· δεήθητε οὖν τοῦ κυρίου τοῦ θερισμοῦ ὅπως ἐργάτας ἐκβάλῃ εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ.
et dicebat illis messis quidem multa operarii autem pauci rogate ergo Dominum messis ut mittat operarios in messem.
Usually, the image of the harvest is associated with the end of time, with the Day of the Lord. Here this image becomes a symbol of apostolic work, the proclamation of the kingdom of God. It is also an image of the working Church, which is God’s field and God’s building.
