A World Mission Sunday Reflection
On this World Mission Sunday, I write to remind myself and others that the location of our Oblate Mission is, in fact, the entire world! Forty-four years ago, the Acts of the 31st General Chapter was promulgated: “Missionaries in Today’s World.” That General Chapter reaffirmed the mission ad gentes, and specifically to the poor. It also greatly expanded our perception of the poor and of the “vast field that lay before us,” to use our own Founder’s words.
There are many ways to be missionaries to the poor and marginalized: our presence among them (for some of us, even as one of them), in direct service to their human and spiritual needs, in our preaching when we are in other contexts, and in advocacy for them. We are called to lift up the dignity of the poor, whether we are preaching in a village outstation in remote indigenous territory or preaching a mission appeal in a wealthy suburban parish. We are called to preach the Gospel to those who have never heard it. We can do this in long-time communist societies where religion has been suppressed. We can be equally missionary when we dialogue with so-called “Christian” Nationalists who hear Jesus’ words every Sunday but seem not to comprehend his message in a way that reflects the life of Jesus himself. Whether in a breadline or upholding the values of Christ in a corporate boardroom where decisions are made that affect the lives of countless poor people, each of these locations can be equally missionary territory, ripe for evangelization. We are even called to this perspective among our fellow Oblates, assuring that we reach out to our fellow suffering and marginalized members.
Our personal missionary identity also requires ongoing conversion. We are called to deepen our awareness and experience of cultures beyond our own. We require an ever clearer and deeper view of “the poor, with their many faces,” as seen “through the eyes of our Crucified Savior.” Fortunately, Christ’s eyes are not confined by time, space, or culture. He looked at the rich young man “with love” as he challenged him to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Jesus clearly and lovingly beheld both the poor and the rich. This is how he sees us, this is how he invites us to see others.
A challenge for many Oblates who are not engaged directly in full-time pastoral ministry is a feeling of disconnect with those whom our charism calls us to evangelize. Some Oblates have spent the vast majority of their consecrated lives in internal ministries. To my fellow Oblates in such situations, I simply share that each Oblate and member of our Charismatic Family is called to embrace every Oblate ministry around the world as one’s own. They can exist partly because of your presence in our Congregation.
Together, we can all be proud of the progress made by the Delegation of Senegal-Guinea-Bissau, being named Province; by Namibia’s embrace of the new missionary presence in Mozambique; by Madagascar of the Island of Reunion; and by Brazil of the Amazonia Region of Ecuador! We can all admire, pray for, and support those Oblates from even more units who will send personnel to these new Missionary Foundations. Our hearts and souls go with them.
After all, that is the title of this blog—”Cor unum”! In the Evangelical Counsel of Poverty, we hold all things in common—including each other and our works. May we hold each other well in the love that Jesus showed to all, wherever he was, with whomever he was—Cor unum!
By Jim Brobst, OMI
Published on the OMI World website