We’ll occasionally hear that “the Church needs more priests,” and indeed she does. Without priests, we cannot easily enjoy the great grace the Lord gives us in the Sacraments. We’ll occasionally hear that “the Church needs more committed spouses,” and indeed she does. Without committed marriages, we forget how God loves us, constantly forgiving, forever faithful. Yes, the Church needs more priests, more committed marriages, more teachers, more deacons, more missionaries, more—many more—people of all kinds.
We make a mistake, however, if we take this too far. It is also true that the work of forgiveness, redemption, and sanctification is Jesus’ work, and he is going to do that work whether we are on board or not. As the Lord says in last Sunday’s first reading, “my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11). Our participation in his work, our sharing his burden of the world’s redemption, is a gift. It strengthens us, affirms our goodness, helps us to grow in maturity. This is one reason why the Lord’s “yoke is easy,” for carrying his burden is the very thing that draws us to his heart.