Every Christian is a Missionary of Mercy: Mission Sunday 2016

In 1926 Pope Pius XI designated the second last Sunday of October to be Mission Sunday. This date is an opportunity to remind ourselves that the Church – the community of the baptized – exists to be missionary. The essential and most important purpose of the Church is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

While Mission happens everywhere the Church exists, we often think of it as something that happens overseas. The church in Ireland has made, and continues to make a significant contribution in this area. Redemptorists from Ireland work in the Philippine islands, Brazil, Mozambique, Russia and India. In the past they also worked in Australia. And that is only an example of the Irish missionary presence overseas.

This year´s theme for Mission Sunday is Every Christian is a Missionary and because this is the year of mercy it is reasonable to extend that to Every Christian is a Missionary of Mercy. In effect this means that each one of us is called to proclaim the mercy of God in word and deed.

Each one of us is a missionary in the way our talents and circumstances permit. It is encouraging to see so many people do just that, recognizing their talents and availing of the opportunities encountered in their day to day lives to give witness to the mercy and compassion of God. That can be seen in the care of the sick and the elderly, in the activities of groups like the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Samaritans, in the care given to people with special needs, in the generosity of people to those less well off and in a host of other ways.

Some perhaps find it difficult to identify their talents or to recognize the opportunities to be merciful. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are always a good place to start. These are practical ways in which we can reach out to others and give witness to God´s mercy and compassion.

The corporal works of mercy are: Feed the hungry; Give drink to the thirsty; Clothe the naked; Harbour the homeless; Visit the sick; Visit the imprisoned; Bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are: Instruct the ignorant; Counsel the doubtful; Admonish the sinner; Bear wrong patiently; Forgive offences willingly; Comfort the afflicted; Pray for the living and the dead.

Psalm 136 tells us that God´s mercy endures for ever. We are the ones who are privileged to make that known and enable it to become a real experience for people in their daily lives.