A missionary without commitment to the Good News is a Tourist

Jer. 1:4-5.17-19, 1 Cor. 12:31-13:13, Lk. 2:21-30. On this fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, the Church challenges us to put ourselves in God's service always. Today’s first reading is principally a call to proclaim the good news to all nations. God calls us by our personal names and says: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I consecrated you; I have appointed you as the prophet to the nations". In the second reading, Paul reminds us that the motivation for this prophetic mission must be the following cardinal virtues: faith, hope and love.

Faith in God sustains us in our prophetic ministry in spite of the obstacles we encounter. Hope motivates us to remain focused and to believe that our efforts will not be in vain. Today’s Gospel brings to fore the reality of the prophetic mission. A true prophet faces oppositions, persecutions, rejections and even threats to his life. With Christ as our model, we must continue to love and cherish God’s people, while remaining faithful to God who called us despise all odd. As those called to be heralds of the Gospel, we must be committed to the good news and avoid the distractions of this world. Difficulties must not stop us from carrying out God’s mission. We must always remember that our call is a privilege to serve God’s people. That is, to proclaim the good news through words and actions for a missionary without commitment to the good news, prayer and the people of God, is simply a tourist.

May the Lord help us to be true missionaries of His words so that we may bring His salvation to the ends of the world! Amen!! Good morning and Happy Sunday!!!