Mission Sunday

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

MISSION SUNDAY
WHAT IS OUR MISSION TODAY ?

The Holy Mother Church celebrates a remarkable day today following the tradition instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 inviting all members of the universal Church to come together at least once in a year in prayer and support of missions. Today is Mission Sunday. This Sunday being the 30th Sunday in Ordinary time was officially instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as World Mission Sunday to remind us how we need to pray and support the missions everywhere. The mission of Christ must spread: if we cannot go on mission, we should contribute to the progress of Christ’s mission.It is therefore a gracious moment for all of us to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ living on the margins in situations of poverty, violence, oppression and intimidation. In the same vein, we must each ask what is our own support on this day towards mission?

Acts 1:8 You shall be my witness. Once we encounter our Lord we immediately become his witness. Thus, the witnessing is integral to the Mission is of the Lord and we are to participate in it just like the apostles did. Not to keep it for ourselves alone but to spread it wherever we go. You cannot give what you do not have but if you have then share. This also reminds us that those who have heard the good news must constantly be re-evangelised so as to reminds themselves of the gift of God’s love that has been bestowed and the urgency of echoing the message of peace and joy in the gospel of salvation. Do we think of the spread of the missions? Do we think beyond our comfort zones of a well established and developed Church building as against those who are trying to gather as a Church but lacks the possibility as a result of certain limitations?

But we must first learn to trust Him. For it is only when we trust Him and can make that leap of blind faith relying on Him that we can walk with Him and be opportune to savour His goodness. A priest or pastor, religious or consecrated person has to take this step of blind faith in the Lord when they decide to embrace the vocation to serve God in these special ways. Likewise, the one who decides to serve God in the married or single blessed vocation. Indeed, anything worthwhile requires this step of blind faith moving into the unknown but secured future with the assurance of faith in God. By so doing, our whole lives become a matter of just trusting in God, and that is only when we as missionaries can begin to find true happiness like Bartimaeus. To do this we must trust God to lead us. That is the only way to overcome the challenges we must confront on mission because Christ will surely locate us and ask us, what do you want me to do for you? Nothing can separate you from the love of God and nothing must stop us from sharing with others the love and joy of the gospel we have received till our Lord calls us to Himself.

Be a living witness of the Gospel of Christ…Continue the Mission of Christ Today

Fr Osho