Reflection

For some years now, many have sounded the alarm over the serious shortage of priests. It is quite noticeable that in developed countries, the number of people entering seminaries is dwindling and the average age of priests is older. In developing countries, on the other hand, many seminaries are full and the average age of priests is younger. There is no single explanation for these phenomena. But shortage or no shortage, the observation of Jesus in the gospel reading today remains true: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

We often understand vocation as a call to the priesthood or religious life. If this is our understanding of what it means to have a vocation there is definitely a serious shortage of priests and religious especially in first world countries. But if we look at vocation as an invitation to every baptized person to take part in the harvest, there will be an increase in the laborers who will work in the field of the Lord. All of us have a vocation; all of us have been called by the Lord of the harvest.

There is one good thing that can, and indeed, has come out of the diminishing numbers of ordained priests. For a good number of years now, there is a growing participation of the laity in the life of the church. We see more and more people becoming extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, ministers of the word, taking part in the social ministry of the church especially for the needy and neglected. Here in our parish, we are encouraging people to participate in the life of our parish community. There is an increase in the participation of parishioners in the life and ministry of the church. Such participation is not only due to the shortage of priests but by virtue of our baptism, we are all called by God to participate in the church. It is not a privilege but a call, a responsibility we have. It is a gift as well as a vocation.

But the real venue where the laborers are most needed that Jesus spoke about in the Gospel is not only to participate in church activities but in living out the faith in one’s family and place of work. Only you as lay persons can bring the gospel of Jesus into family life, politics, and the business world.

Response

Indeed, there is a shortage of priests today. But there is also a shortage in the vocation to holiness of lay people. It is a call to be with the Lord and then to be sent to his harvest, the world, as his laborers.