Normally, we associate the concept of mission with the image of priests or religious sisters working with the most needy in Africa. We imagine Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta dedicating herself to the poorest in India. However, that is only one part of missionary activity and does not encompass the whole reality. Mission is the continuation of the saving presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit, which is carried out through the whole Church—that is, everyone who has been baptized: clergy, consecrated, and laity.
Origin
First of all, mission is not of human initiative. It comes from the eternal action of God the Father, who sends the Son and the Holy Spirit to be present in the history of humanity’s salvation. Christ is sent by the Father (Gal 4:4; Jn 3:17; 5:23; 6:27; 17:18) and is made visible in the Incarnation (Lk 1:26-38) and in the Paschal mystery. The mission of the Son consists in assuming human nature to redeem humanity, reveal the Father, and communicate grace. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is sent (Gal 4:6; Jn 14:26; Lk 24:49; Jn 15:26; 16:7), and His historical presence is made visible in the Baptism of Jesus (Mt 3:16) and at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). The mission of the Holy Spirit consists in the interior sanctification of the soul, the communication of divine charity, guiding man toward God as his ultimate end, and constituting the Church as communion.
Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that “the Church herself, in all her members, is increasingly called to be a missionary Church, which opens its arms to the world, proclaims the Word, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.”
Agents
Every young person who has been baptized is a missionary and is sent by God, through the Church, to proclaim His love to all humanity. This task is not exclusive to clergy and consecrated persons but also belongs to young lay people. Each one contributes to the mission by evangelizing and proclaiming the Word in their environment: in the Church, at work, in the family, in school, etc. It is evident that mission is not easy, since even Jesus Himself encountered many obstacles in His earthly ministry. For this reason, the young missionary must be characterized by virtues acquired in mission: patience, openness of mind, sincere charity, spirit of prayer, perseverance, and so on.
Missionary Activity
Mission is closely linked to preaching—not only with words, but also through the witness of a Christian life. It may seem strange that in the 21st century there could be someone who has not heard about Jesus. Nevertheless, there are many who have heard of Him yet do not draw near. This is the task of the New Evangelization: to re-evangelize all those baptized who, because of secularization and dechristianization, have drifted away—using new methods to proclaim the Good News.
The places where the Gospel has not been heard and where the Church has not yet been established require the ad gentes mission. Here, preachers are sent—priests, consecrated, or laity—to sow in new ground. The purpose of this missionary action is to implant the Church so that they themselves may carry out God’s work. Finally, pastoral care is required in those places where ecclesial life already exists, and where the sacraments are received. Pastoral care keeps alive the faith and Christian life among the faithful.
Participation
As a young person, can I be a missionary from my parish, or do I need to go far away from my land and family? Here are some ways the Church invites us to participate in missionary activity:
- Prayer
- Working in favor of the missions
- Promoting vocations in one’s own family, in Catholic associations, and in schools
- Teaching with Christian values in schools
- Collaborating in parish and diocesan activity
- Deepening one’s faith and knowledge of Church doctrine (e.g., theology, morality, Sacred Scripture, etc.)
- Financial contributions to missionary works
Conclusion
The identity of the Church is to be missionary. To turn away from or flee from the mission is to lose the essence of our being and of our faith. Today, the world needs young missionaries who are willing to leave their comfort zone and risk their lives to bring God’s love to the whole world.
Jonathan Garcia Mora – Blog
Missionariesservantsoftheword.com
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