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Missionaries plant ‘Good News’ around the world |
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By Deacon Mickey Friesen
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Wednesday, 07 October 2009 |
We hear a lot these days about the “state” of things in our world. We hear about the state of the union, the state of the war and almost daily we hear about the state of the economy, health care and jobs.
Mission Link
Deacon Mickey Friesen
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So often the state of things seems dark and full of difficulty.
What about the state of our Christian vocation to bring Good News to the poor, and light to those in darkness? What is the state of our mission to all nations?
The month of October has come to be known as “mission month” for the worldwide Catholic Church, culminating on World Mission Sunday, Oct. 18. We are invited to consider the state of our missionary call and how we can cooperate in bringing the Gospel to all nations.
When I think of the state of mission, today, around the world, I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the sower. Some prepare the ground and plant the seeds. Others nurture the growth of the plant. Still others are called upon to bring in the harvest. Preparing, planting, nurturing and harvesting the fruit of God’s Word is what it means to be missionary today.
In some parts of the world where Christ is unknown, mission means
preparing the ground for the Gospel by living and witnessing to
Christian values of love, care for the poor and protecting human
dignity. I’m reminded of Maryknoll Father Bob McCahill, living now for
more than 30 years as a Christian among Muslims in Bangladesh. His
witness prepares the ground of faith and reminds me of a quote from St.
Francis of Assisi who said, “Proclaim the Gospel at all times, and, if
necessary, use words!”
In various parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific Island regions we can
give thanks for the planting and growth of the church. Many are coming
into the church and bringing a vitality and enthusiasm for the faith
that inspires vocations. At the same time, these young churches are
often plagued by poverty, civil strife and all kinds of human misery.
Some young churches face religious persecution and others are
threatened by the effects of natural disasters and global climate
change.
Feeding body and soul
 I have been told that being the church in these places means serving
basic human needs while evangelizing the spiritual. Sometimes, church
institutions are the only entities providing education, health care and
advocacy for human rights. The church stands in the midst of civil
conflict and the aftermath of war and genocide to care for victims,
facilitate peace and reconciliation.
Like the sower in the parable, the church must face the rocky soil of
hard hearts, the thorns that choke faith and the elements that threaten
human growth and development.
We should not forget those who suffer for the faith around the world.
It has been said that the blood of the martyrs becomes the seed of the
church. We recall those missionaries and faithful who have died in
India, Latin America, Sri Lanka and other places in witness to their
faith in Jesus. I think of the holy innocents of our day: refugees, the
marginalized, the sick and dying who offer their suffering with Jesus
on the cross.
Jesus said, “The harvest is plenty. Laborers are few. Come with me into the field.”
Cooperating together in Christ’s mission to the field afar makes it
possible for the harvest of the kingdom to happen in our day. During
this mission month and on World Mission Sunday, let us re-commit
ourselves to be disciples of Jesus and do our part to bring his message
of love and mercy to the ends of the earth.
Deacon Mickey Friesen is director of the archdiocesan Center for Mission.
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