I still remember a story told to me when I was small. It is a story of a war prone country where every thing in that country was destroyed. In a small town of that country there stood a church that was partly destroyed. One day the priest of that parish got together some people and started to rebuild the church, when they a found the Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which had no hands. The people decided to buy a new statue, but the priest took the statue and placed it on the broken alter and put a board close to it saying “I have no hands but yours”. These words always keep ringing in my ears.”
Today the church celebrates Mission Sunday. And when we hear this word Mission, we immediately think of Mother Theresa or priest and nuns working in the interior parts of our country, however this is only partly true. We all are call to be missionaries in the world, and our mission field is right here, in our parish, the place where we stay and the place where we work. All of us through baptism are consecrated, called, set apart to be missionaries for God, to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. And how are we to do this. I have selected three main areas in which we could do this.
The first area is the world at large. Ecological Mission we can call it. Our planet is fast degenerating. Plants and Animal life are fast dying. The water we drink in not safe any more. Our roads are full of pollution; our streets, our gutters & garbage bins are littered with plastics bags. According to a recent study, scientists say that plastics can survive for about 600 to 700 years on this planet. In the midst of this what is my respond to this? We are reminded of the Genesis story of creation: “God created the world and saw it was good”. We are call to be a missionary in this area. To save our planet & to use less fuel and plastic as possible. So our children may have a better future.
The second area where we are called to be a missionary is in our very own parish. We all are called to be missionaries in building the Church of God, not the physical structure, but the People of God, of which you all are a part. The question we can ask ourselves here is “do we take an active part in the church activities”. According to a survey taken, only 10 % of the parishioners are active in the parish. In one of the parishes in Vasai where I lived for one year, almost every one in the parish was active, including the children. The Youth group in that parish had taken a challenge upon themselves to spread the awareness of the harmful effects of plastics on the soil. They also took up the challenge to go to each village and educate the people on the how to reuse garbage as natural manure for the soil.
Coming back to our parish, we can’t help but ask our selves this question, what is my role in the parish? We have the SCC’s in our parish. Do we support it, by our active participation or do I prefer to live an individualistic life of my family and me. We are called to be missionaries by actively participating in the parish activities and by contribute generously to the church.
The third area is our very own neighborhood, the place where we stay. We are call to be missionaries of Love, which the Father gave us through his Son our Lord Jesus Christ. In the first reading we have seen that we are called to respect the rights of the week and the poor, to respect and welcome strangers, to be compassionate to the distressed and give a listening ear to the lonely. But there are times when we say this is only the work of the Legionaries and the S.V.P. But if we just sit down for a while and think, am I asked to do something supernatural. Can’t I keep a side a few minutes form the hustle and bustle of life to speak a few words of comfort to my neighbors, irrespective if they are Christians or non-Christians? We are all call to be advertisers for the Kingdom of God, by our acts of Love and Charity.
As we celebrate Mission Sunday today, let us ponder on what it means to love my neighbor. One of the best examples that come to mind is the neighborhood group started in certain parishes of Mumbai. Where all members they take up the responsibility to help the authorities in keeping their neighborhood clean & prevent outsiders causing disturbance in the community.
“I have no hands but yours”, we are not call to do great things in life, but in a small way can make a difference. Be it the world at large or our neighborhood, we are called to be missionaries in a small way. Let us make a beginning to day, and as we partake in this Eucharist let us ask the risen Lord to enlighten and strengthen us to carry out His Mission in this world. Amen.
As Children……
As children what can I do, I think the best you can do is to study you lessons, Use less paper and plastics as possible. Avoid unnecessary waste of water and electricity…
Today the church celebrates Mission Sunday. And when we hear this word Mission, we immediately think of Mother Theresa or priest and nuns working in the interior parts of our country, however this is only partly true. We all are call to be missionaries in the world, and our mission field is right here, in our parish, the place where we stay and the place where we work. All of us through baptism are consecrated, called, set apart to be missionaries for God, to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. And how are we to do this. I have selected three main areas in which we could do this.
The first area is the world at large. Ecological Mission we can call it. Our planet is fast degenerating. Plants and Animal life are fast dying. The water we drink in not safe any more. Our roads are full of pollution; our streets, our gutters & garbage bins are littered with plastics bags. According to a recent study, scientists say that plastics can survive for about 600 to 700 years on this planet. In the midst of this what is my respond to this? We are reminded of the Genesis story of creation: “God created the world and saw it was good”. We are call to be a missionary in this area. To save our planet & to use less fuel and plastic as possible. So our children may have a better future.
The second area where we are called to be a missionary is in our very own parish. We all are called to be missionaries in building the Church of God, not the physical structure, but the People of God, of which you all are a part. The question we can ask ourselves here is “do we take an active part in the church activities”. According to a survey taken, only 10 % of the parishioners are active in the parish. In one of the parishes in Vasai where I lived for one year, almost every one in the parish was active, including the children. The Youth group in that parish had taken a challenge upon themselves to spread the awareness of the harmful effects of plastics on the soil. They also took up the challenge to go to each village and educate the people on the how to reuse garbage as natural manure for the soil.
Coming back to our parish, we can’t help but ask our selves this question, what is my role in the parish? We have the SCC’s in our parish. Do we support it, by our active participation or do I prefer to live an individualistic life of my family and me. We are called to be missionaries by actively participating in the parish activities and by contribute generously to the church.
The third area is our very own neighborhood, the place where we stay. We are call to be missionaries of Love, which the Father gave us through his Son our Lord Jesus Christ. In the first reading we have seen that we are called to respect the rights of the week and the poor, to respect and welcome strangers, to be compassionate to the distressed and give a listening ear to the lonely. But there are times when we say this is only the work of the Legionaries and the S.V.P. But if we just sit down for a while and think, am I asked to do something supernatural. Can’t I keep a side a few minutes form the hustle and bustle of life to speak a few words of comfort to my neighbors, irrespective if they are Christians or non-Christians? We are all call to be advertisers for the Kingdom of God, by our acts of Love and Charity.
As we celebrate Mission Sunday today, let us ponder on what it means to love my neighbor. One of the best examples that come to mind is the neighborhood group started in certain parishes of Mumbai. Where all members they take up the responsibility to help the authorities in keeping their neighborhood clean & prevent outsiders causing disturbance in the community.
“I have no hands but yours”, we are not call to do great things in life, but in a small way can make a difference. Be it the world at large or our neighborhood, we are called to be missionaries in a small way. Let us make a beginning to day, and as we partake in this Eucharist let us ask the risen Lord to enlighten and strengthen us to carry out His Mission in this world. Amen.
As Children……
As children what can I do, I think the best you can do is to study you lessons, Use less paper and plastics as possible. Avoid unnecessary waste of water and electricity…
3 comments:
Dear Fr Lincoln,
Nice sermon,you know yesterday i took my son Ryan to the medical centre gokuldham,some went out of their way to help me ,cause he could not stand, he was limp from vomitting .
When i came back ,senior citizens ,in my building helped me in the lift ,reached him to the bed & left .They were all non catholic people
many could have helped ,few chose to do so.MAY BE they felt they had to be requested,even if called would think ,not me,he's there ,so why me ?
GOD BLESS THEM ALL & YOU TOO .
Ryan is now better .
Have a nice day
Cedric
"I have no hand but yours"; how very true, but we seldom take note of this in our every day mad rush for fulfilling our earthly needs.
Thank you, Fr. Lincoln for reaching out to all of us, reminding our responsibilities towards people of God - our own brothers and sisters.
Best Regards,
Michael Fernandez
St. Lawrence - Thane.
"I have no hand but yours"; how very true, but we seldom take note of this in our every day mad rush for fulfilling our earthly needs.
Thank you, Fr. Lincoln for reaching out to all of us, reminding our responsibilities towards people of God - our own brothers and sisters.
Best Regards,
Michael Fernandez
St. Lawrence - Thane.
Post a Comment