We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard

Ish 56:1-6, Rom. 10:9-18, Mk 16:15-20. On the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, the Church invites us to celebrate, the "World Mission Sunday". Today is a moment of grace to express solidarity with missionaries who are living in situations of poverty, violence and oppression. Everyone is invited to join this special event and every penny and prayer we give to Mission helps missionaries everywhere continue their work. The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, states that ‘the pilgrim Church is essentially missionary’ (AG 2). Mission is not some extraordinary task that the Church undertakes but an addition to its normal business of managing a world-wide institution. Mission is rooted in the nature of the Church; it is the reason for its existence. In today's Gospel, Jesus invites us to join in the world wide Mission agenda and continue His mission in the world. This is not just the responsibility of the priests and religious but of the entire people of God: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

As Pope Francis reminds us, ‘all baptised members of the Church are sent forth in her name to witness to, and proclaim, the Gospel of God’s love’. This is how God is able to ‘touch and transform hearts, minds, bodies, societies and cultures in every place and time.' During His life on earth, Jesus was particularly concerned with those on the periphery of society, those who were marginal to, or excluded from, the Jewish establishment of His time: the poor, the blind, the lepers, the tax collectors, those possessed by demons, the persecuted and the downtrodden. Jesus wanted to end their misery and enable them to have life in its fullness: "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full" (Jn 10:10). Concern for poor and downtrodden was at the very heart of Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord" (Lk 4:18-19). Jesus fulfilled the promise of God as expressed in today’s first  reading: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. As true disciples of Christ, all members of the Church are called and sent out to be agents of Christ’s love and compassion in our broken, confused and anxiety-riven world.

May the compassionate love of the Risen Christ touch our hearts and make us true missionary disciples! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!