Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Ps. 33; Heb. 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
WHAT IS YOUR DISPOSITION TOWARDS THE MISSIONARY MANDATE OF CHRIST?
The true sign of a healthy Church is seen and established by the missionary activities carried out by the people of God. This is a fact we all must understand because going on a mission is an important aspect of our Christian faith.
So, today, we celebrate the World Mission Sunday, which began in 1926 by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical letter Rerum Ecclesiae. To mark the 98th World Mission Sunday this year we are presented with the theme "Go and invite everyone to the banquet" (cf. Mt 22:9). So, the “banquet" explains a celebration of community, an open dialogue of faith, and a testament to our commitment to welcome, first and foremost, our brothers and sisters on the margins of society.
Here, we are called to reflect on the missionary mandate that Jesus gave us, thereby reminding us that we are called to be missionaries, professing our faith to the whole world, telling them about the truth and love of God which we have found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
As Christians, all of us, by virtue of our baptism, have received this mission from Jesus. It is not reserved for any group of persons such as the clergy, religious or missionary societies. But every baptized person is obligated to be part of the missionary activities of the Church by witnessing with our lives and by supporting the missionary activities which we are called to do today and always.
But why must we go on a mission? The reason why we must go on a mission and also support missionary activities is that we are beneficiaries of missionary sacrifices of others who had experienced the awesome gift of God’s love and goodness and made them known to us. Secondly, we have, in so many ways, experienced the love of God and his benevolence, so we must extend the same to others.
But the most important reason why we must go on a mission is to establish and constantly renew the knowledge of God’s Kingdom in the hearts of humanity as Jesus commanded us to do. We need to let humanity know about the salvation our Lord Jesus has won for us by revealing the awesome love of God for all humanity.
We will understand the importance of this missionary mandate when we reflect on the ugly attitudes of most people in our societies today and how we are so obsessed with the love of power. People are ready to do anything just to grab power and sustain it. People kill, kidnap, blackmail and condemn others because of their ambition to hold power and sustain it. This ugly attitude of humanity is well displayed in our Gospel passage today when the two sons of Zebedee requested Jesus that he should promise that they should sit one at his right hand and the other at his left in his kingdom.
This unfortunate request was made while Jesus was telling his disciples about his passion and death. But instead of reflecting on the seriousness of the words of Jesus, they were busy quarrelling over who grabs power as most people do today, especially in our country, Nigeria, where many people are suffering and cannot afford their daily meals, but some are busy enriching themselves with the resources of the nation.
Little wonder when the other ten disciples heard about the request made by these two sons of Zebedee, they were indignant with the two brothers. Perhaps because they had misinterpreted Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom and presumed that it would be a kingdom in which they would have honour and prestige like most people think today.
But Jesus called them and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Dear friends, what is your disposition towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How are you contributing to this mission? As we carry out this missionary mandate, we must know that true greatness is found in sincere and humble service to others and not in ambition for power nor by plotting against others.
This ugly attitude is what we often experience in our families, societies and our country today. Where people do all kinds of evil in order to grab power and sustain it. But this should not be the same with us, for we heard what prophet Isaiah in our first reading today said about Jesus: by his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking their faults on himself. And since he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life and through him what the Lord wishes will be done.
Therefore, I don’t know what your experience has been as regards the missionary mandate of Christ. I don’t know which of the characters in our readings can best describe our attitude towards this mission. Are we like the sons of Zebedee? Is our attitude like that of the ten disciples? Is our attitude like that of the pagan rulers who lord it over others? Whichever category we fall in, we must change and have the right disposition which is a call for sacrificial love for God and for humanity.
Today we are called to be humble like Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. For he is the supreme high Priest who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall receive mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help as we heard in our second reading today.
Therefore, as missionaries and leaders, we should see ourselves as servants and not seek after status beyond our reach or plot the downfall of others. Remember, ambition can be a good thing but only if it is kept in check and if pursued for the right reasons, that is, to serve others.
LET US PRAY: Lord God, as missionaries, we are often consumed by excess love for power, which we often misuse and abuse. As we listen to your teaching today, may we learn to use the power and authority entrusted to us in humble service for the common good of all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.
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