In the last couple of months in the US, the country has been struggling with how to manage its immigration. There has been an effort to regulate the people coming in, and to deport those with no papers to some other places. However, it has come to the awareness of a section of policymakers that the country relies heavily on labor whose immigration status is irregular.
The hospitality industry, the construction industry, and the agricultural sector are such areas that are labor-intensive and require many hands-on people. Think of the vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma in California with hectares and hectares of ripe grapes and strawberries with no one to pick them. Imagine everything just rotting and going to waste and the economic losses to the farmers who invested so much in these expensive vineyards and wineries.
Fruit Ripe for Harvesting
In our gospel today, Jesus uses an agricultural or farming image to speak to us about matters that are spiritual. He says, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Think of thousands and thousands of people with no one to reach out to them with the gospel, with no one to spiritually tend to them.
Figuratively speaking, think of souls that are “ripe,” but there is no one to pick them, and they are “spiritually rotting” because there are no “spiritual laborers” to “harvest” them. The Lord, who is the owner of the vineyard, cannot stand or imagine the spiritual loss he is about to face. He makes His need known and appeals to each one of us to pray for more laborers for his vineyard.
Pray for Vocations
We live in a time, especially in the Western world, where the Church is struggling to get vocations to the priesthood, to religious life, or simply to some kind of lay ministry. Many people are searching for meaning and purpose in life and asking existential questions, but the people accompanying them on such a journey are becoming fewer. Christ, through the Church, has always provided answers and accompanied people. “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are fewer.” The Lord is looking for more laborers.
The work of evangelization is one to which everyone who is baptized is called. You may not be a priest or a nun, but by virtue of your baptism, you have been called to further the gospel. You may not have any theological training, but you can make a financial gift, as others have done for years, to contribute to planting the gospel and helping its extension for those who need to hear it. You may not have good health, but you can share the gospel through the good example of your life. You may not be a good public speaker, but you can be the kind that encourages your family members to pray together or to go to Church together!
Today, as we go about our day, may we ask ourselves: In what small or big ways can I become more missionary? May we ask ourselves: In what ways can I persistently pray and support vocations to service in the Church?
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. May the master of the harvest send out laborers for his harvest.” Amen.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fred's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
