On one occasion while Jesus Christ was with his disciples in the midst of a large crowd, seeing them “harassed and helpless,” He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:36-37).
Certainly Jesus was referring to the calling of men to the priesthood, but also to the universal call to holiness to everyone in order to be instruments of conversion to those around them, especially to those who are separated from God. That said, it is true that if one strives for holiness in a humble manner, God will use them to bring wayward sheep into His fold.
Not long ago, in Hastings, a very anxious woman came into our office and while crying said to our receptionist, “I do not know what to do any more. I just don’t know what to do!”
As our receptionist related later, it seemed as if the Holy Spirit took control as she replied, “Would you like to go into the chapel to pray?” “Oh yes!” the woman replied.
“Would you like to go alone or would you like me to go with you?” asked the receptionist. “I want you to go with me!” was the answer. 
Once inside the chapel, dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, they knelt down before the Blessed Sacrament. Then the tearful woman said, “Please tell me what to do!”
Once again, according to our receptionist, it seemed that the Holy Spirit took control as she said, “Look at the crucifix. Do you think that Jesus understands suffering?” After looking at the crucifix and the Stations of the Cross, she replied, “Oh yes... Jesus does understand…. He suffered and died for me!” She said it with great emotion. After a few moments, she arose and said joyfully, “All of my anxiety is gone! Thank you very much!” With that she left our office in peace—not peace that the world gives, but the peace that only God gives.
This is one of the reasons all our sites across the diocese have chapels. I can personally relate that this is not the first time something like this has happened, and it will not be the last. Many people off the street are drawn into our chapels and start to cry—not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy and peace. Some people have even asked us, “Why is this the only place I have ever experienced peace?” or they have said, “This is the only place I have ever encountered this kind of peace.”
As I dropped in a few days ago to say hello to the members of a Bible study group that meets weekly at Gianna’s Java & Gelato, after telling them this story, I told them that if they strive for holiness, God will use them also to bring souls to Him because, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
You can be sure that if you pray in this manner, you too will become a fellow laborer in the fields and vineyards of the Lord.
