Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Mission

It’s a commonplace to say that life is a journey. For disciples of Jesus it’s also a mission, for Christ told his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

He sends us to anyone who will listen to what we have to say. He sends us to affirm and encourage the good, to help lift the burdens of those who are weighed down and to pay attention to those who don’t count or are ignored. In short, Christ sends us to be ambassadors of faith, hope, and love.

We can be forgiven for thinking that this is too hard. It would be, if we thought we all have to pack up and go to the other side of the world. Some people actually are called to do this, but not everyone.

For most of us, being missioned doesn’t have to mean going farther away. It can often mean staying where we are but going deeper into our relationships and surroundings. Our families, our places of work, our cities, communities and churches — these are often the places where Christ sends us, and we don’t even have to pack.

But we do need to remember that Jesus normally doesn’t send us alone. We often find that others are being sent along with us. Above all, Christ always goes with us.

As you think about this, ask yourself, “To whom or to what might Jesus be missioning me today or this week or this summer?”