God Has Hired All of Us

“Because my shepherds did not look after my sheep but pastured themselves…Thus says the Lord GOD: I swear I am coming against these shepherds…I myself will look after and tend my sheep.”

I believe this is the “back to school” Mass for you all, correct? Well, then, on behalf of Fr. Innocent and as an alumnus of this fine institution, welcome to UNCC if this is your first semester here, and welcome back to those returning.

Allow me to address that cryptic first reading. If God swearing that He will come after those wicked shepherds scares you, imagine how much that scares me. Me, a priest of Jesus Christ, I who share in Christ’s office as shepherd to his people. Because God is really coming after me, right? He’s coming after lazy priests like me who not only failed to pasture His flock, His people, but ultimately took care of themselves and only themselves. So, maybe you all are off the hook?

Well, here’s the kicker. I might be a ministerialpriest, meaning that I have been ordained to offer the sacrifice of the Mass…for whom? Well, for you, really. And why do I shepherd you? Because, where I am a ministerialpriest, you are all royal priests. You share in the priesthood, you share in the office of prophet, you share in the office of king and queen of Jesus Christ by virtue of your Baptisms, which were then strengthened by your Confirmations. So, I am your shepherd, so that you can go out and be theirshepherds. So, guess what, guys? God is coming for you too if you don’t tend to His sheep.

Here’s the deal: We’re all laborers in God’s vineyard. According to our gospel passage for today, at certain points in our lives, at certain points in time, God has hired each and every one of us to work in His vineyard. Some of us He’s hired earlier than others; some of you came in a little later. But whatever your circumstance, God has hired all of us. And that’s why we’re in this room celebrating Holy Mass together; God has hired all of us. Whether you’re a freshman ready to be away from home and have the college experience, or whether you’re a senior on your way the heck out of here: God has hired each and every one of you.

My vineyard is at St. Gabriel’s…but your vineyard is here, on campus. Take this opportunity to pray to the Lord and discern what He’s calling you to do here. There’s plenty of ways to be involved on campus. Of course, we’d like to see you at CCM every Wednesday evening, but you should be involved in all those other clubs you want to be involved in. Because at the end of the day, I can’t reach those places; you, and only you, can reach those places. I don’t go to football games anymore; you do. I don’t go to the Student Union anymore; you do. I’m not part of the anime club; you are. You might be those folks’ only exposure to a Catholic, to Catholicism. Don’t waste that opportunity; fall back on the grace of your Confirmation and be that witness you were confirmed to be.

Today, we celebrate the feast of Pope St. Pius X, and it’s a fitting way to begin the new academic year. When he took the throne of Peter, he took as his motto, “Instaurare omnia in Christo”: Restore all things in Christ. That restoration begins with you, in the classroom, in your activities, doing your homework, working on papers. All those things can be restored to Christ, but only if you are willing to exercise your priesthood and pray before you begin each activity, saying, “Lord, please bless the work I am about to do now.” In that way, you will fulfill what we sing in our UNCC alma mater: “May Charlotte’s light dispel the night, illumine all our days…Without your power, our finest hour would hold no victory. So let us love your life and cherish your great name,” Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, unto the ages of the ages. Amen.