MISSION TODAY

By SR. LUCY

 

On July 13 we began our new module on ‘Mission Today’ with Fr. Edgar G. Javier SVD, a Missiologist who was a missionary in Samoa for sixteen years.

Enlivening his presentation with many interesting stories from his mission experience, he led us to understand the new ways of mission in its fundamental idea as being God’s mission (Missio Dei); we are only His instruments.

Missionaries have gone from ‘saving souls’ to ‘implanting the Church’ and ‘proclaiming Christ as Son of God and Savior’ to ‘proclaiming the Kingdom of God’.

Today’s mission, according to the FABC, is dialogue with the poor, culture and religions.

As missionaries we must dialogue with cultures, traditional religion (beliefs, codes and ceremonies), religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Judaism, Taoism, etc), and dialogue with creation). With dialogue we learn from one another and about each other. We can grow to accept the others and we change by interacting with others. 

According the emerging theory of mission (1999 – present) the meaning of mission is prophetic dialogue, service for the Kingdom of God, healing and reconciliation and Story Telling.

As missionaries we are to be ready to cross borders or frontiers and reach out (dialogue with the other) to build relationships and bring about healing and reconciliation. Our mission is God’s work; we are only tools of God. “Kenosis” – self emptying – should be the missionary’s distinctive trait so that God will fill us up with His Spirit and the Spirit dwell in us. This is spirituality of mission. Aware as we are that we live in 21^st century, in this era of globalization we must also dialogue with science.