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 HE WORLD MISSION SUNDAY!

Today, we Catholics all over the world observe as World Mission Sunday. This annual observance was instituted 98 years ago in 1926 by Pope Pius XI. Every year since then, the universal church has dedicated the last Sunday in the month of October to reflect on and pray for the missions. On this day, Catholics gather to celebrate the Eucharist and to contribute to a collection for the work of evangelization around the world. This annual celebration gives us a chance to reflect on the importance of mission work for the life of the Church. It reminds us that we are one with the Church around the world and that we are all committed to carrying on the mission of Christ, however different our situations may be.

Shortly after when Jesus began his mission, and he realized that he had a lot of work to do. It was a big task for just one person, Jesus. So he decided to appoint some assistants. But being very busy himself, he gave this task to a Recruiting Agency and asked them to do all the formalities of recruitment. The Recruitment Agency placed the ads in the local newspapers and got 12 applications. They conducted the interviews and forwarded their remarks and recommendations to Jesus for his decision to appoint whoever he wanted.

*Simon* , a fisherman, who is known as Peter; is very impulsive and prone to opening his mouth and putting his foot in it. When caught in a tight corner, he is liable to deny essentials. Lacks courage to speak the truth. Not Recommended.

*Andrew* , a fisherman and brother of Peter, could be too selective about who he lets have access to you. A reserve nature lacks openness. Not Recommended.

*James and John* , both brothers, work as fishermen for their father. Very ambitious, they brought their mother for an interview who did all the talking. It was she, in fact, who asked for the top positions for her sons. Not Recommended.

*Philip* is a slow learner and a bit slow in understanding things. Not Recommended.

*Thomas,* who is prone to severe doubts. He looks for concrete evidence for everything. Without solid proof, he is not ready to believe. Not Recommended.

*Matthew* is a tax collector and would be bound to lead to internal conflict. His fellow countrymen regard him as having sold himself for financial gain and, therefore, would not trust him at all. Not Recommended.

*Bartholomew* : He is too skeptical a person. Not Recommended.

*James, known as James the Younger:* He is too young to make any solid decision. He may be suitable when he is a little older. Not recommended.

*Simon the Zealot* : a political extremist. Because of his extreme views, his presence could be distributive in the group. In fact, any team that included him.

*Jude* : What can we say about him? He is just a hopeless case. Not Recommended

*Judas Iscariot* , ambitious, known in high Temple places, is very good at making and handling money. Highly Recommended.

In spite of this remark and report, it was not recommended, Jesus went ahead and gave jobs to these twelve. Why, we all wonder? Would we have trusted them to do the job? No! But Jesus did. He appointed them for His job. In the twelve, there was an extraordinary mixture - people with no extraordinary gifts, people with different value systems. They had no great wealth; no academic backgrounds, and no social positions. Jesus chose them from among ordinary people, people who did everyday things. And yet, this ordinary group did extraordinary things. They proclaimed the Kingdom of God boldly. They cured all kinds of diseases and sickness. They died for the sake of their master, Jesus Christ.

My dear brothers and sisters, today, we are all here celebrating the World Mission Sunday because these ordinary people accepted their role in the great mission of Jesus. They, in their own time and culture, responded to God’s invitation to spread the Word. As we have gathered to celebrate God’s Word in our time and culture, may be we need to remind ourselves that we are the descendants and successors of those twelve that Jesus chose nearly 2,000 years ago. We are the descendants of those whom Jesus commissioned to preach his Word. Not only are we their descendants, but Jesus still invites us to do the very same through His Word and his Sacraments and through how we live our lives.

Jesus invites us to be His helpers, His missionaries, despite the ‘Not Recommended’ sign that we might or others might label us with. He chooses us and challenges us to reach out to people in need, to care for one another, to try and make the world a better place but more importantly to live as witnesses to Christ message of salvation.

On this World Mission Sunday, let us reflect on how we should evangelize: By exemplary and transparent Christian life, by prayer and by financial support. The most powerful means of preaching Christ is by living a truly Christian life - a life filled with love, mercy, kindness, compassion, and a spirit of forgiveness and service. Prayer is the second means of missionary work. Jesus said: “Without me, you can do nothing.” Therefore, prayer is necessary for anyone who wishes to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

All missionary efforts also require financial support because the love of God can often be explained to the poor only by providing them with food, medicine, and means of livelihood. Hence, on this World Mission Sunday, let us learn to appreciate our missionary obligation and support the Church’s missionary activities by leading transparent Christian lives by fervent prayers and by generous donations.

Let us offer our lives, our vision for the Church, and extend our helping hands, hearts, and strength to reach out to the poor, the needy, and the downtrodden with the love of Christ. Let us ask God to bless us in our worship and in our life in all that we do for the sake of his kingdom. Amen.