VATICAN: Ahead of World Mission Sunday, Pope Urges Christians to “Let Christ Out” to Others
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the Catholic Church prepares to mark the 98th World Mission Sunday next month October 20, Pope Francis has reminded Christians that their encounter with Christ is not merely for personal gain but to share Him with all the people.
“Today’s drama in the Church is that Jesus keeps knocking on the door, but from within so that we will let him out! Often, we end up being an ‘imprisoning’ Church which does not let the Lord out, which keeps him as ‘its own”, reads in part the Pope’s message for World Mission Sunday and it continues, “The Lord came for mission and wants us to be missionaries.
Themed ‘Go and invite everyone to the banquet’, as has been inspired by the Gospel parable of the wedding banquet (cf. Mt. 22:1-14), the Holy Father reflects on three aspects of evangelization which he says is timely, “during this final stage of the synodal journey that, in the words of its motto, “Communion, Participation, Mission”, seeks to refocus the Church on her primary task, which is the preaching of the Gospel in today’s world.”
Addressing the first aspect of evangelization “Go and invite,” the Pontiff has stressed that every Christian is called to be part of the universal mission, “by offering his or her witness to the Gospel in every context so the whole Church can continually go forth with her Lord and Master to the “crossroads” of today’s world.”
In this way, he calls all the baptized, to be ready to set out anew and inaugurate a new missionary movement. He further appreciated the missionaries who, in response to Christ’s call, have left everything to spread the Good News and make disciples of all nations.
In his reflection on the second aspect of the theme, the Head of the Catholic Church talks about “the marriage feast” saying, “While the world sets before us the various “banquets” of consumerism, selfish comfort, the accumulation of wealth and individualism, the Gospel calls everyone to the divine banquet, marked by joy, sharing, justice and fraternity in communion with God and with others.”
Thus, he encourages all people to deepen their commitment to taking part in the celebration of Mass and to pray for the Church’s mission of evangelization.
The third reflection focused on “Everyone” where the Pontiff highlights that in the spirit of synodality, involving everyone and excluding no one in evangelization is the heart of the mission.
“Today, in a world torn apart by divisions and conflicts, Christ’s Gospel remains the gentle yet firm voice that calls individuals to encounter one another, to recognize that they are brothers and sisters, and to rejoice in harmony amid diversity,” the Pope’s message reads in part and he narrates further, “Let us never forget that in our missionary activities, we are asked to preach the Gospel to all: “Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, we should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet.”
Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday in 1926 as a day of prayer for missions.
