Mission Sunday 24-10-10 Theme: Authentic Testimony, 21-10-12 1st Reading Is 56:1,6-7 All will gather to offer sacrifice in one place. 2nd Reading Romans 10

Mission Sunday 24-10-10 Theme: Authentic Testimony, 21-10-12 1st Reading Is 56:1,6-7 All will gather to offer sacrifice in one place. 2nd Reading Romans 10:9-18 Blessings for a missionary and the beneficiaries of his mission. Gospel Luke 24:44-55 Jesus wants the Gospel be preached for repentance which will lead to forgiveness of sins. The first reading tells us how God takes care of each one of is saved. God says that his salvation will come to al who believe in Him. The second reading shows the power of the word. The revealing reality of God’s goodness in His Son’s mission to save us has come to each one of us. Jesus died on the Cross, rose from the dead to give us new vision for a life eternal Gospel is a story of Jesus, who came to brings the fullness of the Revelation. Jesus tells us that we are going to be authentic witness of his saving mission. When we accept our sinful condition and seek his forgiving love he will show that he saves us. We are celebrating the Mission Sunday usually before the Advent. In the last days of the month of October, we gather our thoughts to the idea of universal gift of salvation. We have to become aware of this truth that it has to reach each person born in this world. We see though many are involved in proclaiming the good news. We have many saints who have really been instrumental in bringing salvation to many people. The greatest are the apostles. Paul takes first place in proclaiming the good news to the gentiles. We have a recent saint, Theresa of child Jesus as the model of missions. She never stepped out of her religious community. Neither was she gifted to preach. She was a person who prayed for the missions this has given her the right to be one of the patrons of the missions. St. Theresa of child Jesus offered her life of suffering to the proclamation of the word of God. Her mission of suffering service inside the convent became a shining source of her missionary endeavor. We have the most recent saint of the gutter. Our own Blessed Mother Theresa who was a missionary parexellance, doing her little duties with love. It is not enough to give donations and forget about our duties. The most important duty of every Christian is to be a living witness to the truth we have experienced. When we live our Christian life joyfully, expressing our love in a living relationship will we be shining examples of living love. Then people will say, “look there live the living Christians” Was not Blessed mother Theresa a living shining star in the suffering marginalized? The world leaders’ unbelievers, even communists recognize her missionary charisma. People have borne testimony of her influence on their lives. Why do we not influence people around us? Usually some people come to see me after mass. I work for a department where I collect funds for poor children in the hostel. One day the mother of these people said to me, “why don’t you seek help for my children?” I said this is only for poorest of the poor people they are not poor. Immediately the little son of her said, “mom why deprive some poor children their share by asking help from Father?” That is witness coming from the inner voice of a child who saw good unknowingly. Where as the mother was not aware of the goodness in them. To be a missionary we could…. bring justice where justice is lacking, bring love where love is missing, bring duty where laziness reigns, bring compassion where hardness of heart dominates, bring about unity where there is disunity, harmony where there is disharmony. These are Christian values do we endeavor to bring these into our ambit in our daily lives? We may say that is not my work. My work is to provide for my family. Take care of their needs. Live happy family life. When we have a happy family can we have a reliable happy society. Often that happiness of the Christian joy is mission in the run for our daily bread. In the process joy is lost, unity and justice is lost. We get trapped in the rat race of this life. At the end of the day we feel we have achieved very little? Let us become aware of our responsibility of being Christian in this modern world. Often our testimonies will become instruments of grace to someone in need of a light in dark tunnel. Have I ever experienced my testimony becoming a source of grace to some one in my vicinity? Then I can say my mission task is actively working as a Christian. If I am insensitive about salvation of other person then my faith is selfish. I have to be a messenger of grace, an apostle of hope, a companion of Good News, a missionary of salvation. I can bring forgiveness, repentance, love, hope, goodness, who knows how many virtues which will eventually be instrumental to the gift of Faith which is exceptionally given by God. I can be an instrument, which is sharp then my product will be beautiful and sharp. Let us be always ready for our mission and become fit and worthy instruments of missionary grace. Wishing all of you, a happy mission Sunday, In union with the divine word. Fr. Juze Vaz svd