Are we encouraging the workers for the harvest?

Today’s Gospel reading at Mass contains a quote from Our Lord that is very popular within vocation discernment and seminary programs: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt 9:37-38) Of course, it’s a beautiful image of  priests as harvesters of souls for Our Lord, and not merely administrators or sacramental functionaries. It’s an image that we should be encouraging, especially to promote prayers and devotions from the laity for vocations.

Prayers and devotional activities asking “the master of the harvest to send out laborers” are important, but there’s another step I think many Catholics are missing. As I mention in my vocation story, one reason for my discernment of a vocation to the priesthood was the insistence by a lay woman that I was going to be a priest. Because she was willing to state (not ask!) that I was called to be a priest, the seeds were planted. She was willing to encourage the vocation, and a vocation bloomed.

As Catholics, we all need to be willing to encourage vocations in our parishes. Doesn’t matter if you’re young or old; lay, religious, or priest; the vocations are out there and the young men in our parishes need to hear our encouragement to consider the call. Throughout their formative years of schooling, children are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Also, we encourage high schoolers and college students to consider their career, usually saying something like, “You’re good with computers. You should get a degree in computer science,” yet we’re reluctant to say, “You should consider a vocation to the priesthood.” What’s more important: following a career that is only focused on achieving the needs of this life, or following a vocation that focuses on eternal life for himself and those he’s called to serve.

So, my challenge is simple: “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”, but also reach out to young men in your parish and encourage them to become the laborers in the harvest!