by Nancy Schramm, OSF
Recently at the parish where I minister and worship, we had a guest priest from Africa sharing his story of ministry and evangelization amidst the many challenges that his country faces. All of the world has similar challenges in various degrees, but Uganda, which, I, too, have visited, has an alarming number of difficulties. Fr. Emmanuel’s last point of his homily was the most powerful one of his talk: good will always overcome evil. The Divine power of love will always overcome hate and violence. This is our belief in the Paschal Mystery.
It is our mission to be an instrument of this divine love and mercy to others. The community of disciples, however formal or informal, must embrace this mission because we are, indeed, the hands, the feet, the voice and the heart of Jesus here at this historical time and in this geographic place.
This brought me back to Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Joy of the Gospel which I would like to quote here. This section describes the type of community that is needed today. We are called together to evangelize, to support and to accompany so that the Good News of the love of God is experienced by everyone. The following are excerpts which I find particularly inspiring and I hope that you do, too:
“The Church which ‘goes forth’ is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative; he has loved us first, and therefore we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads, and welcome the outcast.” (#24) Does your community welcome refugees from Afghanistan, immigrants from other parts of the world or those who are different?
“An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. Evangelizers take on the ‘smell of the sheep’…[are] supportive, standing by people at every step of the way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be.” (#24) Does your community care for the elderly, the terminally sick, the mentally challenged, the economically deprived?
“Finally, an evangelizing community is filled with joy; it knows how to rejoice always. It celebrates at every small victory, every step forward in the work of evangelization.” (#24) Does your community celebrate the life of the people, its joys and sorrows; setbacks and victories? Do the members know each other by name and the contributions that they do to build up and improve the community?
“My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off; it is not an ‘extra’ or just another moment in life. Instead, it is something I cannot uproot from my being without destroying my very self. I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world. We have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing and freeing…But once we separate our work from our private lives, everything turns grey and we will always be seeking recognition or asserting our needs. We stop being a people.” (#273) These words question all of us and demand a serious examination of how we are living our lives today.
Perhaps you are thinking that your community just doesn’t work this way. Can you invite a few people to begin a community which takes these words to heart? Missionary disciples seek others to carry forth God’s mission given to us by our Baptism. “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I will be in your midst.” Trust our loving God. From God comes the courage, strength, and wisdom to be a community that lives the mission. It is what the world needs now.
We are Mission! 