Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday, a time to highlight the importance of sharing the Good News. The theme of this year’s Mission Sunday is ‘Abundant life’, a phrase which brings to mind a fullness of life and a spirit of joy. Is this how we go about our mission? In Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis speaks of the joy of being a missionary. He says that all Christians, by virtue of their Baptism, are missionary disciples: ‘All the baptised, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelisation…

Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelisation; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus.

So, what are we waiting for?

The disciples in today’s Gospel certainly have missionary zeal, but they have got the focus wrong – they are thinking of themselves and their status, rather than the task they have been given. But Jesus teaches them a lesson in discipleship – their task is to serve.

Something to think about as we reflect on our mission today.

Tríona Doherty Athlone, Co Roscommon Email trionad@gmail.com

Kick-start your evangelisation mission here;

http://newevangelization.wordonfire.org/

The New Evangelization