We have experienced the World Cup with great enthusiasm—huge crowds at every match, with fans full of spirit and joy as they cheer for their favorite teams. I marvel at how the stadiums fill up, and I compare that to the state of our churches during Mass. Soccer stirs up passion; Mass, it seems, does not. We lack enthusiasm for the faith, for prayer, and for praising and worshipping God. These contrasting realities reflect a fact that should give us pause for thought. It is no wonder our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers, for the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Yes, it is undeniable: few belong to the Lord’s “team.”
