Jesus sends his disciples on a mission and gives them instructions. These instructions may seem perplexing and contradictory. At first, Jesus tells them, “The worker deserves his wages,” and then he adds, “You have received freely, give freely.” But what have they received, and what should they give freely? The disciples have received a mission that encompasses five points. Understanding these five ways of being a missionary helps us grasp the different facets of missionary life. Let us try to comprehend these five ways of being a missionary.
Proclaim That the Kingdom of Heaven is Near
Above all, being a missionary involves setting out to proclaim the nearness of the Kingdom of Heaven. It requires stepping out of comfort zones and embracing the risk that comes with it. Being a missionary, therefore, means being willing to risk one’s life for Christ. The proximity of the Kingdom of Heaven can be understood in two ways. First and foremost, it refers to a temporal proximity inaugurated in a special way by Christ, who is “God among us” and has promised to be with us until the end of time. Secondly, the Kingdom of Heaven denotes how Saint Matthew speaks of God reigning over all humanity. The expulsion of demons is a striking sign of this Kingdom of God (cfr Luke 11, 20). The simultaneous nature of words and actions in the advent of the Kingdom of God as expressed in the life of Jesus and the disciples shows that it is the work of God, with the disciple being an instrument. God confirms the words of the missionary with ordinary and extraordinary actions.
Heal the Sick, Raise the Dead, Cleanse the Lepers, Cast Out Demons
We have here the remaining four ways of being missionary. They constitute the second way in which the proximity of the Kingdom of Heaven is experienced. Through missionary activities, men and women experience physical and spiritual healing, a new life, are purified from what separates them from others, and liberated from the grip of Satan in all its forms.
The Demanding Nature of the Mission
This mission is noble, but it is also demanding. Unlike the disciples, we are called to be itinerants, always ready to go to new horizons where the Spirit of the Lord sends us. We are called to approach the entire mission with a spirit of gratuitousness and expect nothing in return. Sometimes we may experience rejection and persecution because of the Gospel. We are called to detach ourselves from whatever could constitute an obstacle in this mission. The asceticism required may seem to render this type of mission impossible for today’s missionaries. However, Jesus also tells us also that “the worker deserves his food or wage.” What does Jesus want to teach us through these seemingly contradictory instructions?
Being Instruments in the Hands of God
It seems to me that Jesus wants us to understand that the mission is, above all, the work of God. He is the one who touches hearts and transforms lives. However, in this mission, He relies on us and associates us with His mission. We are imperfect instruments, just like Jesus’ disciples, but God uses us and wants to accomplish wonders through us. It is essential to believe in this because we are missionaries by virtue of our baptism and confirmation. We are aware of the difficulty and the demands of this mission today. We recall the words attributed to Pope Paul VI: “Contemporary man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”
The Challenge of Being a Missionary Today
To be a missionary today is demanding. Personal testimony is essential in a society that gives more credibility to witnesses. Being consistent with our Christian identity is a daily challenge. Christians who faithfully lives out their faith in the midst of a hostile society may sometimes feel alone. However, we are never alone in bearing witness because we are given the Holy Spirit. We need to make room for the Holy Spirit always. Therefore, it is essential not to be burdened by material things and not rely on our strength but on God. We are called to be instruments in the hands of God, despite our imperfections.
