Reflection for the World Mission Sunday, 2020

 

WE ARE ALL CHOSEN AND SENT

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5, 1Timothy 2:1-8, Matthew 28:16-20

 

Today is the World Mission Sunday. This celebration was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as the feast of catholicity and universal solidarity in order that all Christians may recognise their common responsibility with regard to evangelization of the world through prayers and support for the missions. So, on the World Mission Sunday, we are once again reminded of our collective responsibility towards missionary endeavours as members of the Church. As Jesus sent out his disciples on a mission in the gospel reading of this Sunday, so are we by virtue of our baptism, ‘chosen and sent’ to continue the missions of Jesus Christ in history.

Before departing this world, the risen Jesus, fully vested with divine authority (Matt. 28:1; 11:27; Daniel 7:14), summoned his disciples and commissioned them to continue his work on earth. Jesus asked them to go and make disciples from all nations; baptize them in the name of the Trinity; and teach them to obey all that he had commanded them (Matt. 28:19-20). As today’s disciples of Jesus therefore, our primary mission is to make disciples. What this implies is that our mission is first and foremost, a mission of seeking out the lost, of bringing others to the fold and this mission is without boundaries. In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus’ ministry was primarily limited to the Jewish people but with the words of Jesus in this passage, the boundaries are now expanded to include all humanity. As missionaries therefore, we should be careful of shallow evangelism.

Also, Jesus commanded his disciples to teach the people all that he has commanded them (Matt. 28:20). When we have made disciples for Jesus, the next step is to teach them everything that Jesus has commanded us. We are to teach what Jesus commanded rather than impose our own opinions on the people. This is important in our time when as teachers and witnesses, we pick and choose the aspects of the teachings of Jesus that favour us while leaving out the ones that do not serve our personal interests. This teaching is to be done not just with words alone but also by deeds. We must also bear in mind that teaching is a slow process that requires patience and personal involvement on the part of the teacher.

Lastly, Jesus promises to be with his disciples (us) always until the end of the world. Jesus, as the Lord of all, promises to be with us, the Church even until the final culmination of ages. This continuing, abiding presence of Jesus is a profound and comforting assurance. As such, in our different missionary activities, we are going to encounter obstacles and challenges, but let us always rely on the supportive presence of Jesus who always abides with us. Jesus is our Emanuel and he is always with us. In the risen Lord, God remains with his Church both in the good and bad times. Today, let us make ourselves available to be sent by God on mission. Let us also pray for missionaries who work far away from their homelands and for those who work in difficult and hostile places.