14TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: The Paradox of Scarce Laborers for the Lord

Mission Begins with God

Christ’s instruction to the seventy-two, “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves” is a powerful reminder that mission originates from God. It is God who sends, equips, and sustains. The divine mandate does not promise comfort, but commitment. To embrace the gospel mission is to renounce attachment to material securities — “Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals.” The radical nature of this call may be why so few laborers enter the vineyard today. Who wants to give up comfort, popularity, and luxury for a life of service and sacrifice, especially when there seem to be so many attractive alternatives out there? Perhaps we should also wonder what those alternative offers imply for the disciple of Jesus.

Facing the Wolves

Discipleship is a call to bear the message of the Cross. The image of wiping off the dust from one’s feet reminds us that even in failure, the gospel must move forward. True mission is not about results but about fidelity to the Lord of the Mission. Just as Jesus was rejected, accused, and betrayed, his disciples also face rejection. The message of the gospel carries with it not only healing and hope but also the potential for rejection and resistance. No wonder we hear about Christian persecution in so many places to this day. The message of the cross is not convenient.

Scarcity of Laborers: A Cultural and Spiritual Crisis

Today’s scarcity of laborers is not simply a lack of numbers; it is a result of spiritual apathy, cultural pressures, and the pursuit of comfort. Pope Francis once notes how the media and consumer culture tempt ministers to conceal their Christian identity and blend in (Cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 79). This crisis challenges the Church to renew its focus on prayer, vocation, and identity. Evangelization is not just an optional activity; it is the task of the whole Church. Christ’s command, “Pray to the Lord of the harvest,” becomes more urgent today.

The Goal of Mission: Heaven, Not Hype

Jesus concludes with a reminder that success in ministry should not breed pride: “Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but because your names are written in heaven.” The goal of evangelization is not applause but salvation. Ministers must lead others to intimacy with Christ, not to themselves. The true victory of the mission is eternal life, not personal fame or institutional achievement. All of us should rejoice that we are on the road to salvation, which is the supreme law of the soul. Saint Paul laments the possibility of falling short of service to God, "lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). 

God Provides for His Workers

Jesus says, “The laborer deserves his wages.” This reassurance is echoed by Saint Paul: those who preach the gospel should get their living from it (1 Cor. 9:13-14). God never abandons his workers. He nurtures, comforts, and provides, as Isaiah poetically describes: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” Where the gospel is truly welcomed, laborers thrive. This applies especially to priests and ministers—they flourish where they are supported and embraced. Rejection, condemnation, and destructive criticism can be antithetical to fruitful evangelization. Christ wants believers to support their ministers.

Mission thrives when laborers are welcomed

Hospitality makes a difference: “If they make you welcome, remain there.” Welcoming ministers encourages their growth, joy, and endurance. Rejection, on the other hand, isolates and discourages them. Let us be a Church that prays for laborers and supports the ones we already have. When priests and religious feel loved and respected, more will be drawn to the mission. St. Paul’s words crown today’s message: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The cross remains the heart of the Christian mission. The world tempts us to boast about status, numbers, or influence. But the true disciple boasts only in Christ crucified.

 Readings: Is. 66:10-14 | Gal. 6:14-18 | Lk. 10:1-12, 17-20

Reflection Questions

1. What comforts or distractions might be holding me back from fully embracing the mission of the gospel in my life?

2. How do I treat the laborers (priests, religious, catechists) in my parish? Do I support, pray for, and encourage them in their mission?

3. In what ways can I participate more actively in the mission of the Church—through prayer, witness, or acts of service? Is there a voice calling me to serve somewhere that I ignore?