Scripture Reflection, June 15: Many Are Called

Scripture Readings:
Exodus 19: 2-6
Psalm 100
Romans 5: 6-11
Matthew 9: 36-10: 8

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“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” These famous gospel words of Jesus have been repeated countless times through the ages. Since becoming the director of Catholics on Call a lot of people have asked me about the program. When I tell them that it is a national vocation discovery program for young adults, many of them comment about the “decline in vocations” in the Church. They lament the fact that the numbers of people entering religious life and the seminary have steadily decreased in recent years. And they express their deep concerns for the future of the Church.

I appreciate the sincere concern that is articulated by the people with whom I talk about Catholics on Call. At the same time, I am eager to tell them about the young adults I have met through my work with Catholics on Call, especially the men and women who participate in our young adult conferences. Last weekend here at CTU (June 5-8), we hosted 24 men and women, from 18 to 28 years old, who are considering a life of service in the Church. This was the first time that we had offered a shorter version of the young adult conference. It was a marvelous experience of prayer, formation, and dialogue with people who are very committed to Christ and the Church. This group bonded quickly, sharing with one another their hopes and dreams as well as the questions they are asking as they try to make crucial decisions about their lives. They talked about the counter-cultural quality of a vocation to lay ecclesial ministry, religious life, or priesthood. They were honest about their peronsal struggles yet very hopeful about their own futures and the possibilities of serving the Lord and his people.

I enjoy telling people how inspiring it is to be part of these young adult conferences. The men and women with whom I share these experiences motivate me to try to become more faithful to my own vocation as a Passionist priest. Some Catholics are convinced that in today’s Church “the laborers are few.” It may just be, however, that there are many people who are eager to labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Perhaps the expressions of ecclesial ministry will look different in the future than they have in the past. We may not have as many priests as we did in the 1940’s and 1950’s. New forms of consecrated life may develop, as is already happening throughout the world. These expressions of vowed living may appear different from traditional forms of religious life to which we are accustomed. And lay ecclesial ministry will most likely continue to increase in numbers and in significance for the life of the Church. There are however, many potential “laborers for the harvest” in the Church today. We just need to invite them to be open to God’s call in their lives and support them in their discernment. We also need to envision a Church in which there is a communion of vocations – an organic blend of ways of living that exist in mutual relationship and in service to the reign of God proclaimed by Jesus.

This Sunday’s Scripture readings highlight the faithful care of God for his people and God’s burning desire to gather all people into one. Matthew tells us that when Jesus saw the vast crowds his “heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus looked at these people with a compassionate gaze because he knew that each one of them belonged to the God whom he addressed as “Abba.” His commissioning of the Twelve to proclaim the reign of God was motivated by the love of God that was present and active in his very person. Saint Paul also reflects on the passionate love of God for all people. He “waxes eloquent” as he ponders the saving death of Christ: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Paul marvels at the depths of God’s love for his people and the lengths to which God would go to reconcile his people, to draw them together into a single family of God.

The reading from the Book of Exodus proclaims that, because of the gracious action of God, the people of Israel were “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” They were a holy people because of the One to whom they belonged – the all-holy God. We, too, are a holy people, a kingdom of priests who have been called to proclaim the marvelous deeds of God in our lives. We are those through whom Christ continues to gaze on his people with compassion, eagerly desiring to reconcile them to God and to one another. Whatever may be our particular vocation in life, each of us is called to be an active participant in the mission of Jesus to proclaim and reflect the life-giving love of God revealed in Christ. In a world of deepening divisions and increasing polarization, we are called to be agents of reconciliation and healing, as were the Twelve who were commissioned by Jesus.

Jesus instructed his disciples to ”ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for the harvest.” As we pray together at Eucharist this Sunday, let us ask our good God to inspire and guide women and men who are called to service in the Church as priests, members of communities of consecrated life, and lay ecclesial ministers. All of us must support the effort to raise up a new generation of leaders for the Church. May we pray, too, that all of us, whatever our particular vocation may be, may recognize more clearly that we have an active part to play in the mission of Jesus that continues today. Each of us is called to manifest the boundless love of God for all people and to become an agent of reconciliation in Christ.

Fr. Robin Ryan, cp