Word to the Wise
Tuesday, July 5, 2016 - Tuesday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Hos 8:4-7, 11-13 and Matt 9:32-38]Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." [Matt.]
This August, a newly graduated student from Texas Tech will enter the novitiate for our Southern Dominican Province. We have been serving this campus since 2010 and our efforts to create a "culture of vocations" are beginning to bear fruit. Two Texas Tech graduates were ordained for the diocese of Ft. Worth, as well. This mission diocese of Lubbock is heavily dependent on the generosity of priests from other countries, especially India and the Philippines, and this is true all over Texas and elsewhere in the U.S.A.. I see this in the retreats that I preach for priests. It is a "United Nations" group that I preach to at these retreats.
Jesus challenges all of us to pray for laborers for the harvest. And, indeed, we are benefiting from the abundance of vocations in places like Nigeria, India, Philippines, Mexico and Colombia, etc. Once upon a time, American missionaries were being sent to these lands (and still are, but not many). Now it is our turn to receive them. Yet, the question remains that our country has rarely been able to generate sufficient vocations to serve the growing needs of the Catholic population here. The post-World War II abundance lasted only about 20 years, and many of these have now retired or left ministry for different reasons. Women's religious life has suffered even greater diminishment.
It is truly the Lord's work to inspire men and women to give their lives for full time ministry to the People of God, but the Lord needs us to help by encouraging young men and women to consider this service. So, all of us are challenged in this effort. Parents may be reluctant in these times of smaller families to give up the possibility of grandchildren. The enticements of an exciting secular career are strong. There are many forces that do not support full time ministry. Our efforts will make it possible for many to hear the inspiration of the Spirit which God will abundantly supply. AMEN
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