GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 23RD OCTOBER 2016
30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MISSION SUNDAY
1ST READING: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
PSALM: Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23
2ND READING: 2Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
GOSPEL: Luke 18:9-14
THEME: WITNESS OF MERCY
The theme above is drawn from the caption of the message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2016 – “Missionary Church, Witness of Mercy”.
The word “witness” presupposes two things. First and foremost, a witness is one who has a personal experience of something. Secondly, a witness is one who is prepared to testify, i.e. to let others know what he/she has experienced. A “witness of mercy”, therefore, is one who has a personal experience of the mercy of God and is willing to share this experience with others. This is at the heart of evangelization. Evangelization is “a beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.”
The tax collector, in our Gospel text, experienced the mercy of God – he did not deserve it, humanly speaking, and yet he received it. Such a person can stand up and be counted as a witness of mercy. Like the tax collector, we are all beneficiaries of the mercy of God in diverse ways.
Pope Francis writes, “On this World Mission Sunday, all of us are invited to “go out” as missionary disciples, each generously offering their talents, creativity, wisdom and experience in order to bring the message of God’s tenderness and compassion to the entire human family.”
Some key phrases in the above quote are “all of us”, “missionary disciples” and “go out” . As missionary disciples, we may consider the following three-pronged approach in participating in the missionary mandate of the Church:
1. Pray: Mission thrives on prayer. When we humble ourselves and pray, God gives grace for every task. In the example of the tax collector we see the power of prayer when it springs from a humble heart. Yes, “the prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it will not rest until it reaches its goal; it will not desist until the Most High responds” (Sir 35:17).
2. Give: We need to give generously to the mission – our time, treasure and talents.
3. Go: The “go” is for everyone. There are no spectator-disciples. Everyone is a player on the mission field. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, each one of us must find creative ways of going out to bring the Gospel of mercy to others.
We are Christians today because some missionaries, in the footsteps of Christ, preached the Gospel of mercy to us. Now is the time for us too, in the footsteps of Christ, to stand up and be counted as witnesses of mercy.
Prayer: Eternal Father, your mercy is real and it heals. Led by your Spirit, may I bring every broken person I meet to the fountain of your mercy. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen)