Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

World Mission Sunday – October 21, 2018.

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ps 122:1-2.4-5.6-7.8-9(R.cf.1); Romans 10:9-18; 

Gospel – Matthew 28:16-20.

Theme: With the Youth, Proclaim the Gospel to all!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today is World Mission Sunday (WMS) - a celebration which falls on the Penultimate Sunday of October every year. This celebration started based on the decree of Pope Pius XI in 1926. It is a day in which every Church institution, rich or poor around the world prays and supports the mission through a special collection for the Church’s worldwide Mission Sunday Solidarity Fund. It would be recalled that the Holy Father, Pope Francis released his message for WMS titled “Together with the Youth we Proclaim the Gospel to All” on May 19, 2018. What informed this message is his firm belief that “young people are the hope of mission.”

In line with the special attention of the Universal Church on the youth, the Holy Father’s message points out that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow who must be given an opportunity to show the way in terms of the evangelizing mission of the Church. Our reflection today based on Pope Francis’ 2018 WMS message titled, “With the Youth, Proclaim the Gospel to all!” shall highlight the various types of mission, dimensions of mission, ways of promoting the mission and reasons for supporting the mission. 

Background & Summary of the Readings

In the first reading, (Isaiah 60:1-6) the prophet Isaiah gives hope to the returnees from exile that at the Lord’s own time, joy, peace, tranquility and economic prosperity shall return to the land. He assures that the nations shall walk in light and proclaim the praise of the Lord. He maintains that the hearts of the people shall rejoice as the wealth of the nation is restored.   

In the second reading, (Romans 10:9-18) Saint Paul reminds us that no one who believes in God shall be put to shame. He assures that what is required is believing Jesus in our hearts and confessing him with our lips. What is more, he notes that there is no distinction among believers since the Lord bestows his riches upon all who call on him. Stressing the crucial place of those who preach the gospel, Saint Paul says: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  

The Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20) reading recalls how the eleven apostles went to Galilee at the instruction of Jesus. We are told that when they saw him, they worshipped him although some of them doubted if he was the one. Notwithstanding, Jesus gave them the missionary mandate: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” 

Two Types of Mission

Mission Ad Intra: This means mission within the Church in terms of preaching and catechesis and engaging Pious Societies in various missionary enterprises.

Mission Ad Extra: This has to do with embarking on ecumenical fellowship with Christians of other faith and dialogue with Muslims.

Two Dimensions of Mission

Mission by Going: This falls to priests and religious who, based on the invitation of Christ in the gospels, answer the call to the priestly and religious life. On this day, the youth are charged to discern their vocation in life and consider being priests and religious. Parents are equally charged to not only support their children in discerning their vocation but encourage them to work for God.  

Mission by Giving: Today, all Churches around the world are mandated to take up a mandatory collection or do some form of fundraising and remit same to the Pontifical Mission Societies. Since all of us cannot be priests or religious, members of the laity are charged to support the Holy Father by donating generously for the missions. It is important to note that these monies collected universally are in turn redistributed around the world for the following needs: To build new dioceses, father’s houses, convents, train local clergy, support pastoral projects, provide emergency aid to refugees and support use of mass media for evangelization among other projects.    

Story of the Boy Who Offered Himself

The story is told of this parish which organized a special fundraising on WMS. When the time came for parishioners to come up with their donations, all families came out and donated generously. However, the organizers noticed that a widow and her son were the only family that didn’t show up. As such, they beckoned on them to come up. When the son saw one of the organizers urging them to step up, he held his mothers hands and told her that they should go up to the altar. The mother replied her son that they have nothing to offer. The son assured her that God will provide.

As he held her hand to the foot of the altar, the eyes of the parishioners were fixed on the duo. When they got there, the child did not allow his shy and confused mother to say anything. Instead, he said to the priest, “I and my poor mother have nothing to offer. However, we have come to offer ourselves.” At these words, both the organizers and congregation started shading tears. The priest then blessed them and they returned to their seats. As God would have it, many years later, the son became a priest. On his first WMS as a priest, he gave the testimony and ended by saying: “Many years ago, on this, I and my Mum had nothing to offer. We, however, offered ourselves believing that some give to the mission by going and others go to the mission by giving. My dear brothers and sisters, no one has nothing to offer.”

 

Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons from Pope Francis’ WMS Message

1. Everyone is a “Mission”: We must make concerted efforts at fulfilling the mission we received from Christ by the virtue of being grafted into him at baptism as espoused in Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes and Ad Gentes through reflecting deeply about why God created us i.e., “To know him, love him, serve him in this world and be happy with him in the next.”

2.  Proclaim Jesus Christ: We are charged not to be afraid of proclaiming Jesus to all peoples (Redemptoris Missio 3) amidst the vicissitudes of life based on the assurance that “evil is an incentive to a greater love” to those who stand by him. 

3.  Learn from the School of the Saints: Since it is the Saints who first opened for us the horizons of God, we ought to be set afire by the love of Christ by being consumed by that fire through generous sacrifice even if it leads to martyrdom – Leah Sharibu whose release from the hands of Boko Haram we earnestly pray for, remains a model of unwavering faith for all youths in our time.

4.  Learn from the School of the Old: WMS challenges us to “grow in the grace of the faith bestowed on us by the Church’s sacraments” by tapping “the wisdom and experience of older persons to become testimony and encouragement for those looking to the future” – The wise counsel of the aged and the enthusiasm of the young ought to create a missionary-bridge of unity of faith and profound neighborly love in our communities.

5. Transmit the Faith: Because transmitting the faith is at the heart of the Church’s Mission, we are called to spread the faith through encounter, witness, proclamation and charity especially to those in “desolate peripheries” who may be indifferent or hostile to the faith. 

6. Rejection of God has Consequences:  Our liturgy warns against all forms of material and spiritual poverty as well as discrimination against our brothers and sisters because these are “a consequence of the rejection of God and his love.” 

7. Rediscover Your Vocation: In a world in which young people are caught in the web of social networks which often promise elimination of distances and reduction of differences, we are charged to “share a true communion of life,” by discovering and preserving our vocation to God and humanity. 

8. Bear Witness to Love: We are called to take advantage of ecclesial groups like parishes, associations, movements, religious communities et al to engage in missionary volunteer work which promotes human dignity and witnesses to the joy of the gospel.  

9. Training Young People: As a Church, we are charged to educate and train young people in  vocational discernment to promote and foster their God-given gifts in the service of others by being missionaries who are plunged “into the stream of witnesses God desires.” 

10. Support for the Missions: Since “some give to the mission by going and others go to the mission by giving,” we are charged to support the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies through material or monetary aid which the Holy See uses for the needs of the Universal Church. This is why the Holy Mother Church asks that we take up a special collection for the Church’s worldwide Mission Sunday Solidarity Fund today. Pope Francis has insisted that: “No one is poor as to be unable to give what they have, but first and foremost what they are.”  

    

Homiletic Points to Remember

1. World Mission Sunday (WMS) started based on the decree of Pope Pius XI in 1926.

2. It would be recalled that the Holy Father, Pope Francis released his message for WMS titled “Together with the youth we proclaim the gospel to all” on May 19, 2018.

3. It is a day in which every Church institution, rich or poor around the world prays and supports the mission through a special collection for the Church’s worldwide Mission Sunday Solidarity Fund.

4. We must make concerted efforts at fulfilling the mission we received from Christ by the virtue of being grafted into him at baptism.

5. Since the Church is missionary by character (Redemptoris Missio 5), the Holy Father reminds you and me that we are “Mission.”

Conclusion

By the virtue of our baptism into Christ, we are all missionaries called to serve the needs of the Universal Church ad intra and ad extra. We are particularly charged to give the youth their rightful place in the Church as leaders of tomorrow so as to showcase their talents for the growth of the Church to the greater glory of God. While this is done, it behoves on the youth to always listen to the wise counsel of the aged. Since the Church is missionary by character (Redemptoris Missio 5), the Holy Father reminds you and me that we are “Mission.” Happy World Mission Sunday!