At most baptisms, I read a passage from the conclusion of the Gospel of Saint Matthew where Jesus gives final instructions to his apostles, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Within these words, often referred to as the Great Commission, lies imbedded a Christian paradox. This is that in order for the Gospel to be deeply rooted in me, I must continually give it away by sharing it with others. The message of Jesus is meant to be given away, and not kept to oneself.
Pope Francis rightly noted in Joy of the Gospel that “the word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in him ‘to go forth.’” He gives the example of Abraham and the prophets whom God called but then sent to announce what they had received. The activity of God in the soul of an individual is not meant to remain private, but rather, it becomes more rooted in the measure that it is given away. As more water is taken out from a well to quench the thirst of others, even more water accumulates in the well to satisfy the thirst of the one giving it away.
Also, in Joy of the Gospel, Pope Frances dreams of “a missionary option, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.” A Church that does not go out on mission to share the Good News, is a Church that focuses on self-preservation, and slowly (but surely) dries up, becomes disconnected and irrelevant in society. The Church must maintain an unwavering conviction over her message, and boldly share it.
The early Christians understood this, venturing into oftentimes hostile lands to preach the Good News leading to countless martyrdoms. Missionaries have been sent to the ends of the earth throughout the history of Christianity, and continue to do so. In the current exceedingly secular society in which we live, it is not necessary to travel far distances to share the Good News of the Gospel with people who have not heard it. South Georgia may be somewhat of exception since Christianity predominates here, but the latest Pew Research Center poll indicates that 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated. Of these 93.3 million people, only 13% believe in God as described in the Bible, but do not identify with a particular Christian denomination. The remaining 87% are atheist, agnostic or believe in some kind of higher power, but not necessarily in God from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Ninety percent of them either seldom or never attend religious services, and forty-one percent of them state they see no need for religion in their lives.
Mission territory is not far away – it is right under our noses. Every baptized Christian is by definition a missionary – a reality highlighted time and again by Pope Francis by his use of the term missionary disciple. To be a disciple is to be a missionary, regardless of time or place. The mission in here, embrace it, and in obedience to Jesus’ instructions, go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.
Original picture can be found here.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In