The Selfless Missionary

Last Wednesday evening witnessed a wonderful celebration of faith, where as a parish community we gathered in gratitude for, and to affirm Lay Ministry within our parish. It was truly a time of joy and thanksgiving, as each of the groups who generously strive to bring Christ and His love into the lives of so many, came together as one body with the parish clergy, the local religious and our Bishop, Denis Nulty. It was a defining moment where the vision of the Second Vatican Council was being realised and it’s fruit made tangible.

Today on the Second Sunday of Advent, the figure of St. John the Baptist is presented to us as a selfless missionary, rejecting the comforts of the world and living on bare essentials. His entire mission was focused primarily on reconciling God with his people and on their preparation for the public appearing of the Christ. Indeed, St. John the Baptist was Advent personified. Today he offers a wonderful model for all those in ministry and reminds us that in the end ministry, whether it is carried out in works or in prayer, in the home and on the street, in good times and in difficult ones is never to be entered into for personal gain nor is it a conduit for self promotion. Ministry must be selfless and must be centred on our neighbour with one purpose – to reveal the love and mercy of God.

It is important to remember that all Mission is local and it is universal, it is individual and it is collective. Much of the ministry we engage in has influence directly at the heart of our Parish, and other facets of our Christian mission have it’s influence throughout the world. In recent weeks we have been receiving Thank You letters from Mission Stations in Lusaka, Tanzania and Zambia that we, as a parish, have helped through the financial donations made by those remembering the living and their departed loved ones in our Tuesday and Wednesday Morning Masses. These shared Masses allow us to support those in greatest need and also allow us to support various faith initiatives in our own parishes. The selfless gift of remembrance and prayers, together with the donations offered are also concrete mission. The good it achieves for those being prayed for and the contribution it makes to the building up of the Body of Christ locally and universally should never be underestimated. In this time of Advent may we be thankful for those who do so much for others and may we be mindful that the call to mission is sent to one and all. Is it awaiting your response?