Driving around town I can not help but notice all the signs that say, “Employment opportunities are available” or the more common, ” Help Wanted”. I retired in March of this year and I miss my former co workers. There are so many good hard working people out there.
The thing that struck me most about today’s readings from 2 Timothy 4 and Luke 10 was the early Church was looking for laborers, as well, just like the Church today is looking for laborers in the fields of God’s Kingdom on earth. It seemed ironic that we are no different than the early church and today.
In the early 1950’s there was a huge influx of Irish priests and nuns to the mission territory of Florida where I went to a great parochial high school. My wife, Anna, has two cousins who are priests and after ordination and traveled from Boyle, Ireland to Fort Lauderdale where they have severed as priest for over 50 years each. We went to school in Saint Petersburg but there were many good people that helped form our spiritual lives.
Florida is no longer mission territory but there is a huge need for priests and religious all over the world today. I don’t expect a sign to go up outside of church saying that employment opportunities are inside. However, just like the early Church for religious everywhere around us. We need to encourage our sons, daughters and neighbors to consider a vocation to the religious life. This is a huge decision and comes only with prayer.
A young man named, Tim, was a choir director at the church where my wife and I were married. We both noticed something in him. He had a gift for music, but, more importantly, he had a passion for the Lord. Anna mentioned this and said “I think Tim will become a priest.” Anna was the parish nurse and she got to know Tim very well. A couple of years passed and we heard he had entered the seminary. Then he dropped out for a year or so. His mother died just as he reentered the seminary. His story is just beginning. He was ordained two years ago.
I have mentioned Father Tim before but his life story is more than relevant to today’s readings.
We went to the ordination, because we both had prayed for him wherever the Lord would take him. We couldn’t be prouder if he was our own son.
There are many stories like Anna’s cousins and Father Tim. There are other labors who may not have a straight path just like those listed by Saint Paul in 2 Timothy like Demas, Crescens, Titus, and Mark from the early church and modern day, Father Tim.
Some Protestant denominations say that the Kingdom of God is in Heaven. However Luke quotes Jesus as saying that “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.” It is all around you. The harvest is ready and the need is now for laborers in the field.
In the end we need to pray for vocations and encourage our sons , daughters, and anyone in earshot to answer the call for laborers in the field. If God is speaking to you right now. Listen!
Employment opportunities are available. Pray for vocations.
God Bless you always
Bob Burford
