This Sunday, October 24th, is World Mission Sunday. The day is celebrated in all the local Churches as the feast of catholicity and universal solidarity so Christians the world over will recognize their common responsibility with regard to the evangelization of the world. We definitely want to remember, pray for, and support the work of missionaries throughout the world, but also, we must remember that we are missionaries right here where we are to the people around us.
I think it a good opportunity to remember our parish mission and vision, to reflect on it, and to pray for God’s grace for each of us to fulfill it. I for one had to look this up, but I thought I’d ought to know it! I may choose with guidance from the parish to revisit these statements to see if they still reflect who we are and what we are called to do in our current time and situation. I think that from time to time it is necessary to update these things. Of course, our mission doesn’t really ever change since our mission is the Church’s mission which Jesus gave us, “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Our Parish Mission Statement:
Bringing Christ to people and people to Christ.
Our Parish Vision Statement:
Growing as a community of faith and creating disciples of Christ who spread the Gospel through sacrificial love and service.
But you might consider what your personal mission statement is? Listening to God, who are you and what are you about? What is God calling you to do at this time and place? For me, it has consistently come up in my prayer very simply “to strive”. This word appears in the Gospel of Luke, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Luke 13:24) For me, I have to strive or I fall apart. Perhaps that is why I run marathons (and I did finish one recently and am signed up for one next year), because if I don't have a difficult goal that makes me “strive”, I get lazy and slack off! All the more so in my faith! I find if I’m not really challenging myself and putting 110% effort in, I start rapidly to just fall apart. So my personal mission statement is pretty simple and easy: “Strive!” Consider doing something like this yourself. Pray and read the scriptures and see what God is giving you as a mission statement. A good mission statement comes from God and enflames something in our hearts. We need to know our mission and “strive” to live it out!
Peace,
Fr. Greg