Sermon
On the other hand, some do not close their hearts when they see the needs and need around them. Their left-hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing… The works of Christian mercy are not unknown to them. In their prayers and petitions, the needs of the Church and the world have a regular place.
That is why Jesus reminds us of the always current words: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few” (Mt 9:37).
In these words, Jesus reminds us that the Church is apostolic. The situation in the time of Christ was no different than ours. The evangelist Matthew expressed it by saying that “the multitudes were stained and despondent like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). In response, when Jesus speaks of the harvest and then of the workers who would succeed in the harvest, he wants to point out that these are human hearts. The Church has her place, her mission in the role that is the world. The activity of the world is often manifested by a lack of time and, above all, by a lack of workers who will selflessly care for the good of even those who do not realize that they have become slaves to their activities, that they betray themselves, that the meaning of their life has been degraded, exchanged for ephemeral values that lose their meaning upon death. It would be wrong for the Church to leave the field in which she received a commission from Christ to care for precisely those who are depressed and depressed in their lives. Jesus warned that others would be interested in these people, but not with a pure mindset, sincerity, or honesty. By their methods, actions, they will be like predatory wolves. The Church has the duty of shepherd even to those outside the Church. The activity of the world will always be greater, that is, the harvest will be great, and the Church needs workers to remind the world of their meaning, purpose and mission of life. There will never be enough workers in the world. Their activities always require sacrifices as well. Therefore, many accept the call to become labourers in the harvest, but because of the sacrifices he has to endure, some will resign at first, others will be deceived, others will be deceived… Those who endure to the end will bring a bountiful harvest. Jesus also draws attention to this situation when he says: “Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest” (Mt 9:38). By this he meant that without prayer any apostolate will not stand.
The names of the Apostles and the power with which Jesus bestows and commissions them indicate that the Church is apostolic because it is founded on the Apostles, in the sense that it is based on the Apostles as witnesses whom Jesus entrusted with a missionary mission. The Apostles, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Church, will protect and transmit the teachings, the treasure entrusted to them, and the sound words until Christ’s return.
The Church is apostolic, that is, all members of the Church share in her mission, albeit in different ways. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, the Christian receives a call to the apostolate. The fruitfulness of the apostolate of both ordained ministers of the Church and the laity depends on their life union with Christ. The apostolate takes many forms according to vocations, the demands of the times, and the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit. The strength, the soul of the whole apostolate is the Eucharist.
The success of vocation and activity depends on God’s grace. Jesus makes it clear that we should all pray equally for the success of the Apostolate. An example is the parish priest of Ara, John M. Vianney. He prayed. He prayed a lot for himself and Ars. And when the faithful understood why their parish priest prayed so much and so, they began to imitate and follow him, and Ars changed and converted. I have heard the answer to the question of why there are fewer apostolic vocations today, both spiritual and laity. We stopped praying for the apostolic spirit. It is seen in which parish and family attention is paid to prayer. It is a memento for each of us. All the more so when we experience despondency and dislike. No one can say that he is resistant to such a state. Today’s state of affairs may not apply tomorrow. It is already necessary to prevent and prevent such a state of affairs from occurring in our surroundings or within us. We already must pray for those who find themselves in this state, and we know that there are not a few of them. It is a social crisis, but also ignorance of matters of faith, which always do a lot of evil. When malice, lies, and various attacks by sects are added, the results are appalling.
At this time, new workers come to the harvest of Christ – the new priests. But at this time, new graduates of secondary schools, apprenticeships, and gymnasiums, as well as new lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, and masters also end. They too are asked to engage in the apostolate. If ever it was true that educated people were needed, all the more so today, and even more so, that they should also be saints. We are not only to pray for others but also for ourselves. Jesus addresses us with his invitation: “Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest” (Mt 9:38). The vocation to the apostolate is a mystery, but also a gift that may seem difficult and unrealistic as first, we can feel unworthy and unprepared, but over time, and especially by cooperating with God’s graces, we can achieve more than it seemed at first. Once again, we can recall the activities of the parish priest of Ara. What was Ars like when St. John Vianney arrived and what was he like on the day of his funeral?
Today it is necessary that we have goodwill, desire, and willingness to start with ourselves, in our family, and our workplace. Jesus needs every one of us. Our hands can not be replaced by other hands. Our mouths are supposed to say today that tomorrow may be too late.
When we mentioned the new priests, one example of priestly apostolic activity.
In France, the book Letters of the Priest’s Wife was published. This a memento for those who have been misled by the movie Birds in Thorns. They are written by the wife about herself and her husband, who was a priest and who left the priesthood, although with the consent of Rome, they concluded the sacrament of Matrimony.
“How many times have I woken up and my husband cried from a dream,” the woman writes. “At first we didn’t talk about it, but later he said that he often has dreams in which he sees sheep and does not see a shepherd. This woman turns to women: God needs every priesthood vocation, and what is more, he needs every person: believer, priest, man, woman, regardless of age or status, so that today’s world may be healed.
Jesus expresses this by saying: “You have received freely, give freely” (Mt 10:8). Who can replace a mother’s hands? Nik! The father has his own, but he also has his duties. The hands of a priest cannot be replaced by those of the laity, and vice versa.
In Slovakia, zealous Catholics created the sect of the “Holy Spirit of the Open Door”. What does it matter that they have a noble name when they do not act in cooperation with the Holy Spirit? They say they don’t need priests. They celebrate Mass themselves, they administer other sacraments themselves, and they interpret the Scriptures themselves. And didn’t Jesus give the power to celebrate the Eucharist to the apostles? Who was given the power to forgive sins? Who is to watch over the purity of faith in the realm of faith and morals? Yes, the command: “Go therefore and teach all nations…” (Matthew 28:19ff) is an invitation and binds every baptized person, but commensurate with the duties entrusted to them.
Today’s world is hungry for true happiness, which God wants to give to the world through his apostles, through us. We have many role models and ideals, but also teachers around us. Let us thank God for such help in our mission. The priest thanks for having attentive, receptive, and zealous parishioners. Let us give thanks to the priests. Today’s world trusts those who take their mission according to the intentions of Christ.
