23 October 2022
WE ARE COMMISIONED TO WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL IN HUMILITY
St. Francis of Assisi was a holy man. One day he told his friend that they will be going out to preach. When it was time they both put on their habits and walked in the street of Assisi. Many people came out to see them walking on the street. After a long walk Francis said to his friend, let us go back home. His friend said: “are we not going to preach again?” Francis replied: we have being preaching with our lives as we walk along”. Preaching or witnessing is done in many ways. As we journey on, our lives is constantly preaching the gospel to those around us.
St. Francis of Assisi was a holy man. One day he told his friend that they will be going out to preach. When it was time they both put on their habits and walked in the street of Assisi. Many people came out to see them walking on the street. After a long walk Francis said to his friend, let us go back home. His friend said: “are we not going to preach again?” Francis replied: we have being preaching with our lives as we walk along”. Preaching or witnessing is done in many ways. As we journey on, our lives is constantly preaching the gospel to those around us.
Pope Francis in his message for world mission Sunday extracted from Acts 1:8 reminds us of our mandate and the great commisioned “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth”. Again, by virtue of the great commisioning, christ has given his disciples the mandate to “Go make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19), Christ has sent all of us on mission not just the clergy but also the lay faithful. The question today is what is my response to this mandate?
There are people waiting to hear the word of God, others are waiting to have their faith deepened, others need to be woken from their sleep.Just talking about Jesus or about your faith to these people can bring about change in their entire life. Conversion is done by the Holy Spirit not you. Hence, the Holy Spirit is described as the agent of the mission.
If we are humble and sincere like the humble tax collector in today’s gospel our missionary works will achieve great success. For the prayer of the humble pierces the cloud and does not rest till it reaches it’s goal” (Sirach 35:17). Humility in the mission is to acknowledge the fact that all our achievements and abilities are simply grace. While walking on the street St. Francis and his friend came across a mad man displaying in the street. Francis stood still watching him and his friend tapped him asking: “Francis what is it?” Francis pointed at the insane man and said “that could have being Francis but for the grace of God”. Only the truly humble person can fully appreciate the grace of God.
Cardinal L.J Suenen once said “it is often said that those outside the church will not listen but the real truth of the matter is that Catholics will never speak”. Pope John Paul II in his time, asserted that evangelization is an ongoing phenomenon in the church. some of us already evangalised whether clergy or lay faithful, need to be re-evangelised. Yes, because so many ills are being perpetuated in the church today.
Saint Teresa talks about the different ways we can participate in the work of the mission. Some go to the Mission by giving and others give to the mission. If you cannot go on mission let us give to the mission. And if we cannot give or go then encourage others to go and to give. And most importantly, let us create the enabling environment for our children and youths in general to offer themselves completely for the work of the mission.
God does not call the qualified but he qualifies those whom he calls. (Mother Teresa of Calculter) Again, God is not interested in our abilities and capabilities but in our availability, for he uses those who are available to work wonders.
Stay safe,
Remain Blessed,
Happy mission Sunday.
Catholic Church Berwickshire 