Laborers in the Vineyard

The Gospel today is the one that is often used when someone is giving a vocation talk.

“The harvest is many, and the laborers are few. Ask the Master to send laborers for his vineyard.”

At the time of Jesus, He gave the Apostles these instructions. He sent them out to proclaim, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. They were sent to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.”

At the time of Jesus, the Kingdom He preached was new and unknown. He was asking the disciples to do what He did. Jesus sent them out to preach, heal, give life, and free those imprisoned by any kind of demon. Essentially, He was saying to the Apostles, “Now it is your turn. I can’t do this by myself. You go out and do as I have done.”

In our time, there is no doubt we need Church leaders. We need priests, deacons, and Religious Sisters and Brothers. There is also no question that the needs of our world are abundant, and there are not nearly enough Priests and other professional Church leaders to be the living witness of God’s love. We are a world starved for Church leadership. 

I learned a precious and timeless truth when I left the Convent. I received a call from a wonderful priest, Father Dan Keefe. I will never forget his kindness or his insight. He said, “Thank you for giving the Church the 30 best years of your life in service.” He also said, “There is no shortage of leaders for our Church. There is only a shortage of ears open to hear the call of God today. Priests and Religious leaders are being called by God. We just limit our openness to the creative work God is doing among us.”

We do the Gospel and the ongoing creative work of God a disservice when we see this reading only through the eyes of first-century Jerusalem. It is not only talking about priests and nuns. 

We, each and every one of us, by our Baptism, are proclaimed to be Priest, Prophet, and King. We all have a responsibility to hear the words of this Gospel and know they apply to us. We shirk our responsibility as 21st-century disciples of Christ when we leave the command of Jesus in today’s Gospel to the “Professional Religious.”

This Gospel is for us, regardless of age, education, job, sex, or wellness. We are sent as laborers into the vineyard of the world. Jesus missions us to preach the Kingdom of God at hand. We are empowered to cast out demons, forgive, give life, and heal the broken. Jesus tasks us to be His hands, feet, and voice in our age.  

As I get older, I sometimes think this mission is for younger people. I think let the ones without the bad knees do it! But that is not what Jesus asks of me or you. 

Jesus did not say, Thomas, you always are doubting everything, so you are excused. Peter, you are going to deny me when I need you most, so you should not go. Or even Judas, you will sell me for 30 pieces of silver, so you obviously should stay back.  

Jesus sent them all. He sent them with their limitations and weakness. He sent them all to be His voice of hope and promise, His hand of healing, and His heart of love. 

Just as that call was for the Apostles, it is for each of us. No exceptions or excuses are allowed.

As men and women baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we cannot simply pray for vocations. 

We, the people of God, need to do the work of the Lord. We must lead His Church with responsibility, witness, and example. We must be Christ for our weary and wanting world. We do not need to be ordained or make vows to do that. We just need to recognize the power of our Baptism. 

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen