Called to serve in a changing world

Oct 18, 2024

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11;
Hebrews 4:14-16;
Gospel: Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

Today, the Mother Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. But what exactly is “mission”? Mission is the service and sacrifice we offer in love, aimed at the salvation of others. This love is marked by patience and obedience to God’s will. It begins with our own transformation, enabling us to become instruments of salvation for others. Yet, to fulfil this calling, we must first understand the mission entrusted to each of us by God. How can we take responsibility for a mission if we don’t first discern what it is?

Through baptism, you and I are called to participate in this mission. We are set apart for this purpose, each in different capacities and at various levels. For a priest, God has consecrated, anointed, and entrusted him with a specific mission. Likewise, whether you are a husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, sibling, or in your own job or profession, remember that you too have a mission from God. But it is essential to recognise and understand the mission God has given you.

Our families are called to be missionary, as the home is the first place where faith is nurtured. It is here that parents teach their children to grow in faith. I remember my own parents teaching me how to attend church, how to dress for Mass, how to pray, and even taking my siblings and me to the grotto, lighting candles, and praying together as a family. Thus, we need to recognise that mission begins at home.

Jesus knew from the start that His mission was to do the will of the Father who sent Him (John 6:38). This reminds us that the mission does not belong to us — it belongs to God. Even the Church is His. We are merely instruments, called to participate in the mission entrusted to us by God. Today, the world is in desperate need of this mission as it grapples with issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and dysfunctional families. While the challenges we face in mission today differ from those in Jesus’ time, the mission itself remains the same, though the needs and contexts have changed.

As Christians, we are all responsible for this mission. It’s not enough to leave it to priests, religious leaders, or parish councils. We might think our role is just to attend Mass, participate in the Eucharist, and then go home, but that’s not what the Church expects of us. Wherever we are, we must bear witness to Jesus, sharing our personal story with Him. The first disciples, when they began their journey, didn’t carry books — they carried their experiences with Jesus. They shared how He taught and touched their lives. In the same way, we need to proclaim what we have seen and heard from God. To do this, we must listen to His voice and recognise our mission in today’s world. I must be a missionary wherever I am.

In today’s Gospel, we hear the bold request of James and John: “Master, we want you to do us a favour. Allow us to sit, one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” In response, Christ gently reminded them of the weight of such a request by asking, “Can you drink the cup that I must drink?” They confidently replied, “We can.” This question from Jesus is a reminder to each of us of the challenges we will face. It invites us to reflect on our personal response to Christ’s mission. Jesus teaches that true greatness comes from being ready to serve and make sacrifices for others. This is a call to renew our faith and rededicate ourselves to Christ’s mission.

In the first reading, Isaiah tells us, “By his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking their faults on himself.” This passage points to the Son of God, who came to give His life as a ransom for many. His mission was to save humanity from sin, even to the point of dying for others. In liberating others, we also liberate ourselves. By offering peace to others, we find our own peace, and by our identifying with others, Christ identifies with us.

The work of salvation entrusted to each of us by Christ continues today, and our response must be a deeper commitment to God’s mission. This also reminds us of the significant challenges we face — shifting societies, evolving cultures, changing lifestyles, and rapid technological advancements — all of which need to be addressed and evangelised with wisdom and care. Amid these challenges, we can find comfort in the words from the second reading: “Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall receive mercy and find grace when we are in need of help” (Hebrews 4:16).