WORD FOR MISSION
Missionary reflection  on Sunday Liturgy

MISSION as a WELCOME:

of JESUS and of his followers

XIII Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year “A” - Sunday, 26.06.2005

2Kings 4:8-11,14-16                Psalm  88 Romans  6:3-4.8-11 Matthew  10:37-42

Reflections

In the conclusion of his "Missionary discourse" (Mt.10), Jesus prepares the minds of his disciples to develop two attitudes that are necessary for anyone who is sent to proclaim the Kingdom: the vocation with its demands and the mission as welcome. It is a message that touches every Catholic personally, not just the ones who are 'missionaries'. First of all, the vocation has to be lived in love. In fact, Jesus stresses love (v.37) and life (v.39). Love for one's relatives, which is legitimate and blessed, is considered alongside and compared with love for Jesus. Only in the light of the two values of love and life is it possible to understand the necessity, but also the relative nature of the Cross compared with the greater good that is God Himself. Only in the perspective of love and of life do the demands of Jesus' vocation to mission have meaning. Only through love is it possible to reach certain hard decisions that have no meaning for those who do not follow the same logic. Compared with the supreme Good, which is always and only God, even important human values such as family ties or professional interests become relative, giving God the first place, making Him the first option.

The words of Jesus ('take up one's cross', 'lose one's life') are scandalous and seem even cruel, but they are the only words that free us from illusions and bring us to find life (v.39); the way of the Cross is the only one that opens out into eternal life: resurrection. * This message applies both to the missionary who proclaims the Gospel and for those to whom it is proclaimed. In the second Reading, Paul refers to the same radical option: we are called to "live a new life" (v.4) because "having died with Christ", we shall return to life with him" (vv.8, 11)

The second great missionary theme this Sunday is welcome.  The hospitality offered by the Sunamite woman and her husband to the prophet Elisha is exemplary; but so is the gratitude of this "man of God" towards the infertile couple. Having consulted Gehazi, his servant, Elisha foretells that soon they will have a son (First Reading). So the gesture of welcome and hospitality is mutual, given freely. Jesus praises the simple, gratuitous gesture of "anyone who gives so much as a cup of cold water" (Mt.10:42). Note the little detail of cold water, all the more appreciated in a hot climate. Mission as welcome, on the part of both the missionaries and the people among whom they work, is founded on the identity that Jesus establishes between Himself and his followers: "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me" (v.40); words which re-echo in those of the Last Judgement: "I was thirsty and you gave me to drink" (Mt.25:35).

It is here that the whole chapter of missionary co-operation in the work of evangelisation fits in. It is a right and a duty of every baptised person ** along the always-valid lines of prayer, sacrifice (penance), offerings in money or kind, and also in new ways, such as information and missionary formation given to the People of God, visits to young Christian communities, dialogue with and proclamation of the Gospel to immigrants (legal or clandestine), refugees and others; the commitment of those responsible in the areas of politics, finance, culture, social communications to organise a world that is more just, fraternal and at one in the distribution, exchange and management of material and human resources, truly in favour of everybody in the world, with special attention to the weakest and those most in need.

The Pope's Words

*  “If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ and you will find true life”.

Benedict XVI

Homily in the Mass for the inauguration of the Pontificate, Rome 24 April 2005

**  “Missionary co-operation is rooted and lived, above all, in personal union with Christ. Only if we are united to him as the branches to the vine (cf. Jn.15:5) can we produce good fruit… Sharing in the universal mission therefore… is the sign of maturity in faith and of a Christian life that bears fruit. In this way, individual believers extend the reach of their charity and show concern for those both far and near”.

John Paul II

Redemptoris Missio (1990), n. 77

In the Steps of Missionaries

- 26/6: Peter's Pence Collection.

- 26/6: St. Vigilius (+405), third Bishop of Trent, evangeliser of the area with the help of three missionaries from Capadocia (Turkey); he was martyred in the Rendenda Valley.

- 28/6: St. Irenaeus (135-202 ca.). Born in Smyrna (Asia Minor), a disciple of St. Polycarp, he became the Bishop of Lyons. He was a great evangeliser, and is considered the Father of that Church.

- 29/6: Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, missionaries and founders of the Church in Rome. They were martyred under the Emperor Nero, between 64 and 67 AD.

- 29/6: Bl Raymond  Lullo (Majorca, 1235-1316), a Franciscan Tertiary, scholar and writer. He was a missionary in Africa, where he began a fraternal dialogue with the Saracens. But later he was imprisoned and martyred.

- 1/7: St. Oliver Plunkett (1629-1681). Born in Ireland, he studied in Rome and taught Theology in the Propaganda Fide College. He was made Archbishop of Armagh, but was hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1st July 1681.

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Editor: Fr. Romeo Ballan, mcci – Director of CIAM, Rome

Website:   www.ciam.org     “Parola per la Missione”