A Proper Understanding

We all know that the way we understand things is so important. When I'm driving along and spot a red light ahead of me, I know that I have to prepare myself to stop the car. When the sky starts to darken and I hear the crack of thunder, I immediately think of where I can take shelter. When you greet me and put out your hand, I respond by offering you my hand.

These are all ordinary life situations, and I know how to respond to each of them because I understand what is expected of me in each case. If I didn't understand what each situation meant, I could end up driving through a red light and having an accident, getting caught in a thunderstorm, or insulting you because I refused your gesture of friendship.

Who Are The Laborers?

There is a word in today's Gospel reading which I think many of us have not understood correctly, and this misunderstanding may have led us to respond in a way that is not appropriate. The word I am referring to is the word "laborers." Jesus says, "...ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." When many of us hear this word, we immediately think that Jesus is asking us to pray for more priests and religious brothers and sisters.

In fact, we often use that quotation from scripture when we pray for religious vocations. But if we look again at what Jesus is asking, there's nothing to indicate that he's praying for a special type of vocation. He is merely praying that God will send out people to bring in the harvest.

Which Laborers?

And so whom are we praying for? It seems clear that we are praying that God will send out anyone who can help in any way to bring men and women to a fuller understanding of living out the Good News. And so the word "laborers" includes anyone who does any labor, any work, to help bring Jesus' message to others.

"Today's gospel detailing the missioning of the seventy-two disciples reminds us that in his own lifetime Jesus had to depend on more than just the twelve Apostles to help him spread the Good News that the kingdom of God had dawned. The situation remains the same today. God needs the help of more than merely the ordained clergy to evangelize the world. Through our baptism God calls each of us to spread the Good News of God's love for the world" (Edward T. Dowling, SJ).

Things Have Changed

We all know that over the past many years, parishes have changed and will continue to change. One of the most radical changes has been the increased involvement of parishioners in the work of the parish. This has been a life-giving gift to the Church. And all the signs seem to be saying that this involvement will continue to increase. The future of the Church does not rest in merely having more priests and religious brothers and sisters. Rather, the future of the Church rests in having more of its members respond to their baptismal call to be bearers of the Good News.

We must rid ourselves of the false separation that still exists in the minds of many. It is false to think that only the ordained clergy does real pastoral work, and that non-ordained parishioners are merely allowed to do some of the ministerial tasks because there aren't enough priests to go around. On the contrary, it should be quite clear that we are seeing something new happening in the Church. More people are taking more genuine responsibility for the pastoral work of the Church. And, for the overall health of the Church, this movement must continue to grow.

Our Future

This change of attitude is at the heart of where the Church is heading. It's clear that, in many cases, we haven't yet come to a full understanding and acceptance of the fact that "things aren't what they used to be." Some of us are resisting the needed changes in our lives as God's people. The sooner we realize that we live in a Church which needs more of its members taking on more real responsibilities, the more we will become the Church that Jesus wants us to be.

We all need to pray about this. We need to ask the Lord how we can more fully become laborers for the Kingdom of God. Remember that we need such a variety of ministries. Each person must, through prayer and self-understanding, come to knowledge of what he or she can do. Imagine how wonderful our Church will be when we all generously and lovingly respond to Jesus' call for more laborers of God's harvest.