Isaiah 2:1-5 / Ephesians 3:2-12 / Mark 16:15-20
The word “go” gives the idea that there is a movement.
The word “go” is usually followed by a phrase that indicates some kind of activity.
So, it could be go for a meal. Or go for a walk. Or go shopping. Or go somewhere for holiday.
Those kinds of activities give a sense that the activity is enjoyable and relaxing, and we look forward to it.
But it may not be so for all activities that follow after the word “go”.
To go for a meeting may be boring if we just have to be present and listen to presentations. On the other hand, it could be stressful if we have to give a presentation to our bosses.
So, we would like to know what it is that is after the word “go”. Like … go away? Or, do what? Or, meet who?
In the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.
He told them that they will be given gifts that will show that they are God's messengers.
In His name, they will cast out devils, they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands, they will be unharmed should they drink the poison, they will lay hands on the sick who will recover.
So, they went out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the message of salvation with signs from God.
But the mission is not without difficulties or danger. There was rejection and persecution.
Some had to lay down their lives in witness to the Good News.
But the mission continued to this day and the mission reminds us of this: that the Good News is a divine message and not a human initiative.
And because it is a divine message, it comes with blessings for the messenger as well as for the listener.
The gospel tells us that Jesus ascended to heaven, and there at the right hand of God, He took His place.
The right hand of God is the sign and the symbol of the power and the blessing from God.
Jesus gives us the power to proclaim the Good News and He gives us His blessing to carry it out.
Mission Sunday is a call to discover God's gift in us and to discern our mission as Christians.
If we have a St. Benedict's medal, we will see that on one side is a symbol of the Cross with some inscriptions around it.
On the other side is a figure of St. Benedict holding a Cross on one hand and a book on the other.
St Benedict used the Cross to preach the Good News. The book is the rule that he used to promote the monastic life. That was Saint Benedict's calling.
Then there's also the image of a raven carrying a loaf of bread and its beak, and there is also a cup with a snake crawling out of it.
The story is that the enemies of St. Benedict wanted to harm him by poisoning his bread and drink.
But when St. Benedict said the blessing over his food, a raven came along and carried the bread away, and a snake crawled out of the cup.
So, the Lord Jesus protected St. Benedict from harm as he carried out his mission
And the Lord Jesus will also protect us when we respond to His call to go and proclaim the Good News
On this Mission Sunday, let us ask Jesus to help us discover our gifts and to respond to His call.
And as we go forth to be messengers of the Good News, Jesus will work with us and He will give us the signs to confirm the truth of the message.