This Sunday, the Church around the world celebrates Mission Sunday — a day set apart to renew our commitment to proclaim the Gospel “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Pope Francis reminds us in his message for World Mission Sunday that being missionary is not just a task for a few; it is the vocation of every baptized person. “The Church is missionary by nature,” teaches Ad Gentes (Vatican II), “for it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that she draws her origin.”
Every year, Mission Sunday invites us to look beyond our parish walls and see the vast field of humanity still longing for the love of Christ. We are reminded that the Church’s mission is not merely to increase numbers, but to bring faith, hope, and love where they are most needed. In a world torn by division, indifference, and spiritual poverty, our witness becomes the living Gospel that others can see and touch.
The readings this Sunday beautifully illuminate the spirit of mission. In the first reading (Exodus 17:8–13), Moses stands on the hilltop, his hands raised in prayer, while Joshua and the people fight below. When Moses grows tired, Aaron and Hur hold up his hands. This is a powerful image of the missionary Church: some go out into the field, others support through prayer and sacrifice. Mission is always a shared effort sustained by prayer.
St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy (2 Tim 3:14–4:2), urges us to “proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” To be missionary today means being steadfast in faith, teaching truth in love, and witnessing to Christ with courage and compassion.
In the Gospel (Luke 18:1–8), Jesus speaks of persevering prayer through the parable of the persistent widow. Missionary life requires just that — perseverance, trust, and faith that God is working, even when results seem slow or unseen.
As we celebrate Mission Sunday, let us pray for all missionaries — priests, religious, and lay people — who serve in distant lands and in our own communities. But let us also remember: we, too, are missionaries, called to share Christ in our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
May our parish, St. Mary’s, continue to be a beacon of faith and charity, proclaiming the Gospel with joy, prayer, and love.
“Faith is strengthened when it is given to others.” – Redemptoris Missio, St. John Paul II.
