We are all missionaries!

Fittingly, here at the end of Matthew’s gospel (Matt 28:16-20), Jesus sums up his whole mission, distilling his message into a couple of simple points. The disciples, having lived the mission with him would have understood well that Jesus’ entire mission has been to proclaim and promote his Father’s kingdom and now he clarifies how the work is to be continued once he ascends to the Father.

Firstly, teaching the world all the commands he has given (synthesised by him into the great commandment: love God/ love neighbour as self). Secondly, and as part of that, make disciples of all people, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Thirdly, being assured that he is right with them until the end of time.

That’s it folks! We have our doubts at times, we drift far from the path and what a mess we have made of it! But this is what Jesus instructed his disciples then and now. “The Church doesn't have a mission: the mission has a church.*” Sometimes we forget that baptism is the qualification for being God’s missionary disciples, not ordination or theology degrees.

Individual Christians embody God's mission and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to convey it to the world. As Pope Francis reminded us last year, “God wants everyone to take a risk to share with others the gifts he has given to them - their life, talents and his love. God is asking you not simply to go through life, but to give life; not to complain about life, but to share in the tears of all who suffer.”

 “The Lord expects great things from you. He is also expecting some of you to have the courage to set out and to go wherever dignity and hope are most lacking, as there are still many people living without the joy of the Gospel”**.

 Deacon Mark Kelly

(*Bishop Raúl Biord Castillo ” Feb 25, 2017, **Pope Francis, St Peter’s Basilica Oct 1 2019)