Pray for more laborers for the harvest
is rich and abundant!
35 Jesus went through all the towns and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of
the kingdom and healing every disease and illness. 36 When he saw the
crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his
disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his
harvest field.’
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to
him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal
every disease and illness.-Matthew9:35-10:1
The harvest is indeed rich and abundant
but the laborers are few and still diminishing in number as years go
by. So many clergy and religious boast of the number of seminarians
and aspirants/candidates they had or seen before. Now, the number is
so few and sometimes none at all. "Many are called but few are
chosen," some would argue. But for me, when God calls, it is a
serious matter and He doesn't joke. Once called, it is forever but it
is up to the receiver of the call whether to say "yes" or
"no." To say "No" is the very reason why few are
chosen. God is not fickle. He doesn't call for nothing and He doesn't
call only to dump the person in the end.
Many seminary and religious formation
houses stress perfection, that is, a candidate must be Christ-like in
everything - thought, word and action. However, because of a
candidate's past, imperfections and character flaws, one commits
blunders, errors, moments of stupidity and sometimes sin. And because
of that, some would judge or question the formation of the candidate.
Welcome to the lost voice of Understanding!
Who are we to judge if
Jesus Himself never questioned nor sent home His disciples despite
knowing that they would abandon Him during His Passion and
Crucifixion? Who are we to judge or reject candidates if Peter and
Judas Iscariot were not even rejected or sent away by Jesus despite
knowing their denial and betrayal later on? Sometimes understanding
is what is needed more over perfection. However, pure understanding
alone is not healthy as well. Sometimes, it is good to ask, "Who
makes the number of laborers few? Us - humans - or God?"
Image courtesy: artist, stained glass
from Moulins Cathedral
