Today’s Gospel reading begins with a familiar scene: Jesus is preaching, healing, and giving himself completely to everyone who comes to him. But then he pauses; the overwhelming need of the crowds strikes him. And notice this; he doesn’t just redouble his efforts or pray to the Father for his intervention. No, he turns to the disciples and urges them to pray for more workers. Then he sends them out to do works of ministry without him. From that day onward, it became clear that Jesus didn’t intend to do everything himself. He has reserved much of the work of his kingdom for his followers, including us. Bishop Barron writes that we Catholics cannot avoid the demand of evangelization, of proclaiming the faith. Vatican II couldn’t be clearer on this score, seeing the Church as nothing but a vehicle for evangelization. According to Vatican II, it’s not so much the case that the Church has a mission, but rather that a mission has the Church. Bringing people to Christ is not one work among many; rather, it is the central work of the Church, around which everything else we do revolves. Do we need evangelization? The statistics couldn’t be clearer. Did you know there are nearly as many ex-Catholics as Catholics in this country? Did you know that by some estimates, between 50 and 80% of those who attend one of the largest Protestant mega-churches are former Catholics? Did you know that the fastest-growing category in those polls of religious affiliation is “none?” St. Augustine says we need to work as if it all depends on us but pray as if it all depends on God. That can sound awfully challenging, but Jesus reminds us that we have freely received God’s goodness and grace—and that’s what we should be working hard to give away. So let’s give ourselves over willingly to this great work of welcoming and advancing God’s kingdom among us.