Missionary Work in a Difficult World

The Christian life is a missionary life. Every follower of Christ is literally sent on mission to win every creature for the kingdom. Whether most present-day Christians are conscious of that is another story. But that remains the fact. All the four Gospels end with a post Easter missionary mandate. In Matt 28:19-20, the Risen Jesus commissions his disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We find the same command in the parting message of the Risen Jesus to his disciples in today’s Gospel reading from Mark 16:15-20, when he says: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Luke presents a similar mandate in 24:47-48: “Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” John has slightly different wordings but basically the same mandate: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). In all these contexts, Jesus alerts his disciples that the task will not be an easy one, but they will be accompanied with divine grace.

The Difficult Missionary Terrain

The nature of the mission is reflected in the signs that will accompany the believers. Five significant signs are mentioned: driving out demons; speaking new languages; picking up serpents with their hands; drinking deadly poisons without harm; and healing the sick. All these reveal that they will encounter a dangerous world which they should not be afraid to control. It is a world filled with diabolic forces and many human and natural adverse obstacles. The dangerous missionary context is aptly described in the first reading from 1Peter 5:5-14 as an encounter with the opponent, the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (5:8). This is an apt imagery. The devil is described as an opponent who moves like a dangerous predatory lion. He does everything to oppose and frustrate and, even, destroy the missionary task and the Christian life. This is the perennial danger and challenge that the missionary or the believer has to face and must overcome.

Ways to Overcome the Difficulties of the Missionary Terrain

The difficulties are the trials and hardships that accompany one who carries the Cross of Christ. As missionaries and believers, we are encouraged never to give up in the face of these difficulties. From the readings of today, one can identify the following attitudes as guides to victory: 1. constant union with the Risen Jesus, who works with his missionaries and confirms their words through accompanying signs; 2. humility in working with people, as God opposes the proud; 3. being sober and vigilant, as the devil has his own wiles and devices; 4. resisting the dangerous enemy, the devil, with strong faith and readiness to undergo suffering, knowing that Christ has a way of restoring, confirming, strengthening and establishing us after we have suffered.

All these alert us that the Christian life is a constant warfare with diverse forces. We should always be battle ready knowing that the contrary forces are formidable. But we are also warned that our victory can only come from God. So, we should not rely only on our human resources but on God’s power which is ever present with us. This itself is a great encouragement and source of joy. So, we fight already with the assurance of victory. But one thing is clear: we should never abandon the responsibility to win the world for Christ. As a matter of fact, our present society makes it difficult to spread the Gospel of Christ, but we are encouraged never to give up and never to feel intimidated by the forces around us.

Readings: 1 Pt 5:5b-14; Mk 16:15-20]