Researchers have conducted studies demonstrating how people’s actions are affected by how they view themselves. If you are convinced you are bad at math, you will do worse on a math test than if you felt you were progressing. You’re much less likely to win if you expect to lose a chess game. Given this dynamic, it’s worth considering whether we view our role in God’s kingdom the same way God does. Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew begins with a familiar scene: Jesus is preaching, healing, and giving himself to everyone who comes to him. But then he pauses; the overwhelming need of the crowds strikes him. And notice this: Jesus 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 his kingdom’s work for his followers, and that includes us. Jesus wants “laborers for his harvest,” everyday people willing to do the kingdom’s work. Kingdom work has many different roles requiring many different skills, but God most needs willing servants. When we step up and offer ourselves, he makes us fruitful. We must find the right balance between our diligence, God’s faithfulness, and our work and his grace. Or as St. Augustine is said to have remarked, “We need to work as if it all depends on us but pray as if it all depends on God.” That can sound 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.