Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalms 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21
…from your Pastor’s Desk
MISSION-MINDED?
“…so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides Me.” —Isaiah 45:6
Today is World Mission Sunday. The second collection this weekend is for the Missions.
Our Christian Faith would not have spread from where it began… to the far distant lands if not for a long continuous line of men and women who offered themselves for the mission of spreading the Good News. But more than just their efforts to bring Jesus to those who do not know Him, there is also the Divine Dimension. God blessed and worked with these missionaries and confirmed their message with signs and wonders. Still does too.
But it does not mean that being missionaries of the Good News of salvation is going to be smooth and easy and without trouble and dangers to which our long list of martyrs throughout the centuries and up to today – can attest. The Lord appeared to St. Paul [a MAJOR missionary for the spread of the early church] in a vision to assure him of help and protection. So, even for St. Paul, there were times when he felt tired and discouraged and even frightened, and the Lord came to strengthen him. We’ve all been there, right?
For us, we may not be missionaries going to foreign lands, but by our lives we are called to be witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ our Savior. In any given moment, should we not feel up to the task, God will help us when we feel called to bear witness to our faith by our words and actions. In witnessing to Christ – as in many other things in life, actions can speak louder than words…
And so, we pray to our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will work signs and wonders to confirm our message and our witnessing. May our hearts be filled the joy of the Holy Spirit as we keep doing the Will of God.
Here are some supporting Scriptures to strengthen you in your efforts to bring the Love of Christ to the nations of the world.
We must give the nations what belongs to them (see Mt 22:21).
Especially, we must give Jesus to the nations, for He belongs to all people and we all belong to Him (see 1 Cor 3:21-23).
Therefore, Jesus commands us to “make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28:19) and “tell His glory among the nations” (Ps 96:3).
We must “say among the nations: The Lord is King” (Ps 96:10) so that the “families of nations” may “give to the Lord glory and praise” (Ps 96:7).6
Yes, this is your mission: should you decide to accept it.
Together we can make it ‘Mission-Possible’.
Yes, let us pray and support Missions, both home and abroad.
Father Ron
