Homily for July 6, 2025

In the book of Numbers, the people complained greatly at Moses b/c they were tired of the Manna—they said: We remember the fish we used to eat w/o cost in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now we are famished; we have nothing to look forward to but this manna.   This was a great weight for Moses, and he complained to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses: Assemble for me seventy of the elders of Israel… and bring them to the tent of meeting… I will… take some of the spirit that is on you and will confer it on them, that they may share the burden of the people with you. You will then not have to bear it by yourself.

When Jesus appoints and sends the 72, I can’t help it but to think of Moses here—and some codices actually say 70!   By using that number, I think Jesus is making a direct reference to Moses—he’s picking up the ministry given to the elders chosen to help Moses.   Jesus is greater than Moses and appoints for Himself 72 and sends them like lambs among wolves. But Jesus gives them a message to deliver: Peace to this household.   The 70 elders who helped Moses were present at the meeting tent/met God Himself, and they were given a gift to assist Moses—the first thing they all did was to prophesy: they acclaimed God’s goodness (like Zechariah broke into song at the birth of John the Baptist of Mary at the visitation).

 Moses became brutally aware of how difficult it was to lead God’s holy people—alone.   Jesus chooses the 72 and then sends them in pairs.  Bringing people closer to God is not something we are ever supposed to do alone.   It’s Moses and the 70; Jesus and the Twelve; here is also Jesus sending the 72 in pairs. He sent them ahead of time, to the places Jesus later would visit.   This work continues to this day.   God very concretely calls men and women to serve the Church—in temporary roles but also lifelong.

God the Father calls His children to consecrated life: to live as sisters and nuns, as brothers and monks, in lives of consecrated virginity – where their life itself is a sign of the kingdom of Heaven.    But God also calls upon men to become priests—to be part of the 70 who help the One who is greater than Moses/to prophesy and speak up when injustices happen against the poorest and most vulnerable in our country.   As the 70 shared in the spirit of Moses to help carry the load, priests share in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ and are given power and authority — foremost to prophesy: to preach conversion and the saving grace of Christ, and the spiritual authority to confer sacramental grace.

I cannot make myself believe that God isn’t calling any young men from Holy Ghost parish to be His priests—not only statistically speaking (we’re a pretty big community), but simply in knowing that God provides for what we need.   The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.    If the harvest was abundant in Jesus’s time, it is abundant now!   There is a deep hunger for God. The world yearns for God. And if only the world rejects God, it is b/c they have been deceived (as Adam & Eve were deceived).   We need young men to be courageous and answer the Father’s invitation to be a priest of Jesus Christ/to bring Truth into the world/to scatter the darkness of deception.

Some people are concerned that this life of the priesthood is so unhappy: ‘A priest cannot have a family, no children.’    Yes, there are unhappy moments, just like a married couple can have moments of disappointment & loneliness. But if I place my deepest joy what is temporary—as beautiful and God-giving as a family is, priests are called to witness that every joy/true joy comes from God alone, and it’s made manifest in many ways.   Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad b/c of her, all you who love her… Lo, I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river.   The Lord invites us to fix our gaze and rejoice in Jerusalem/in heaven.    What of those moments of unhappiness? As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort.

‘But isn’t it so lonely to be a priest?’   Tell me one vocation/one way of life that doesn’t have those moments of loneliness.   Jesus experienced those too, so we all cling to Him (lay & clergy).   You can make this vocation as unhappy and as lonely as you want it to be b/c it takes a great level of humility for the priest to admit that the work he has been called to do, he cannot do it alone.   It took Moses to the edge until he complained to God!   The priest must work with the people he has been called to serve. And the people he serves are called to support him, for the laborer deserves his payment. It’s a mutual support for the one mission of bringing the light of Christ to a civilization that denies the need for God in their lives.

This, our Diocese of Baton Rouge, needs good and holy priests who have the courage to proclaim the peace of Christ to a hostile world; to proclaim justice where greed has taken over; to confer blessings on those who seek God.   The Lord is calling young men from our parish to be priests.   But, just like a guy/girl does not know if they’re called to marriage if they never date,   how can a young man know if God is calling him if he doesn’t pray about it/if he doesn’t take any steps/if he is discouraged by his family?

If you would prefer not to talk after Mass, feel free to send me an email and I’d love to meet and chat with you   or call the vocations office directly (the number is in the bulletin).   And, if you know a young man who may be called to be a priest of Jesus Christ, encourage him to pray about it and consider it. And pray to our Father in heaven for the young men He has called to be His priests.   The harvest is abundant [so abundant!] but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.