Each year, around my ordination anniversary, I share some thoughts about the priesthood, about vocation. Now, that anniversary falls when the Church celebrates the birth of St. John the Baptist, June 24th. That’s still a little way off. But today’s readings prompt me to talk about vocations a bit early. In the gospel, Jesus calls disciples and sends apostles. He tells his followers to pray for workers to bring in the harvest, the harvest of souls. It seems an apt moment for us all to reflect on God’s call.

Some men knew all their lives they were called to be priests. Others are caught by surprise. I was one of the ones caught by surprise! But that calling continues to make sense of the many parts of my life. I’m grateful for my vocation and grateful to the people who made it possible—family and friends, mentors and confessors, teachers and parishioners. But, I’d urge us all to do our part to echo God’s call in the hearts of others.

First, we pray for vocations. All the Church’s work, including raising up leadership, is essentially God’s work. We’re the instruments. And one of the tasks given to us is to pray for the Lord of the harvest, as Jesus puts it, to gain workers for the harvest. Let’s do that. But do it intentionally. Pray that God show each of us our vocation. When we see someone we think might make a good priest or deacon or religious sister or brother, lift up that name in our prayers.

Then, talk about vocations. Encourage people to think about their vocations. Sometimes the most important catalyst comes when someone (anyone—it doesn’t need to be the parish priest) asks the question: "Have you ever thought about priesthood?"

When we’re talking to young people, pay attention to how we talk about careers. Do we begin by encouraging a path that pays well? Do we hint that optimizing income makes folks happy? (Look around you! That’s completely untrue.) If we persistently make money the aim of our careers and jobs, we’ll never get the priests and nuns the Church needs! Be positive about the value of lives that do good, that benefit others—even at the cost of personal sacrifice.

Lately, we’ve been excited by the news that there seems to be some resurgence in religious practice, in converts to the faith, and in a growing number of seminary students. That doesn’t come from a vacuum. It comes, firstly, by the grace of God. But it happens when Catholics in their practices live and pray their lives with integrity and joy. Let’s make that happen in our parishes, in our communities, and in our families!