Ciao, Padre. Buona Quaresima. I think the problem in our day is that we as a society have stopped believing in God. There are plenty of people who believe in the church and think that's what it means to believe in God. There are others who believe in a cause and pretend that's what it means to believe in God. And there are a growing number who act like God should believe in them and be grateful for the opportunity.
I think the challenge for modern people is the same as it was for the people of Jesus' time: to make a leap of faith, believe in God, and hope in the resurrection. I think Lent is the time when the gospel challenges us to realize how far we have strayed from that faith, and to come back to God again.  We don't need more priests. We need more faith. Pace - monica.