Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year, A – October 18, 2020: World Mission Sunday.
Readings: Isaiah 45:1,4-6; Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1,3-5,7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 & Gospel Matthew 22:15-21.
Theme: “Here am I, send me” (Is 6:8)
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, today is World Mission Sunday. Although our gospel reading (Matthew 22:15-21) presents us with the timeless metaphor of “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what we belongs to God,” our reflection entitled “Here am I, send me” (Is 6:8) shall be a summary of the message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis for World Mission Sunday.
Ten Takeaways From Pope Francis’ 2020 World Mission Sunday Message
1. Despite the Pandemic, Every is Sent: The Holy Father started by emphasizing that “this year marked by the suffering and challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the missionary journey of the whole Church continues in light of the words found in the account of the calling of the prophet Isaiah” which says: “Here am I, send me” (6:8).
2. Push the Missionary Enterprise: He noted that “this invitation from God’s merciful heart challenges both the Church and humanity as a whole in the current world crisis” to push forth the missionary enterprise.
3. Row with Others: The Pontiff stressed that like the disciples in the Gospel who were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm, we are on the same boat, fragile and disoriented but are encouraged “to row together” by comforting one other because “pain and death make us experience our human frailty, but at the same time remind us of our deep desire for life and liberation from evil.”
4. Take to Prayer and Service: Revealing the goal of mission, the Pope disclosed that we are invited to step out of ourselves because the love of God and neighbour remains an opportunity for sharing, service and intercessory prayer” bearing in mind that “the mission that God entrusts to each one of us leads us from fear and introspection to a renewed realization that we find ourselves precisely when we give ourselves to others.”
5. Embrace the Mission of Love: “Jesus, crucified and risen for us, draws us in turn into his mission of love, and with his Spirit which enlivens the Church, he makes us his disciples and sends us on a mission to the world and to its peoples” he further emphasized.
6. Love Christ and His Church: He stated that although mission is a free and conscious response to God’s call, we are nonetheless called upon to develop a personal relationship with Jesus and his Church through openness to the Holy Spirit whether we are married couples, consecrated persons or those called to the ordained ministry in the daily events of our lives.
7. Commune with God and Others: He urges us to understand what God is telling us at this time of pandemic in the light of the Church’s mission namely that illness, suffering, fear, isolation, poverty, low income, loss of job, homelessness, lack food, loneliness, staying at home and even death, invites us to rediscover that we need social relationships as well as our communal relationship with God.
8. Embrace Prayer and the Eucharist: Instead of allowing what we are currently experiencing to increase mistrust and indifference, the Holy Father calls us to embrace prayer and the Eucharist which would move us to respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters towards upholding their dignity and freedom.
9. Be Charitable: He maintains that “the celebration of World Mission Day is also an occasion for reaffirming how prayer, reflection and the material help of your offerings are so many opportunities to participate actively in the mission of Jesus in his Church.”
10. Support the Mission: Pope Francis surmises by stating that “The charity expressed in the collections that take place during the liturgical celebrations of the third Sunday of October is aimed at supporting the missionary work carried out in my name by the Pontifical Mission Societies, in order to meet the spiritual and material needs of peoples and Churches throughout the world, for the salvation of all”
Conclusion
Our liturgical readings for Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year, A demonstrate that both divine and political power are God’s. Jesus’ answer, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what we belongs to God,” sets the benchmark for living in a civil society while being committed to one’s faith. As Christians, our responsibilities of to the state include respect for Civil authorities, payment of taxes, patriotism, prayer and goodwill. Priests as expected to serve as bridge-builders between the Church and the state.
However, in the light of the current #Endsars and #FixNigeria protests across our country occasioned by police brutality and bad governance, the Church has a moral obligation to walk the talk and engage cruel leaders head-on through talking truth to power. Indeed, for priests, dogged witnessing and shunning both materialism and partisan politics remains crucial. Pope Francis ends his message by praying that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization and Comforter of the Afflicted, missionary disciple of her Son Jesus, intercedes for us and sustains us both now and forevermore.
