Hands Raised for the Mission
Listening the Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Listening the Word: Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, "There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.'"
The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Reflection
This Sunday's readings call us to perseverance in faith, prayer, and mission. As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, we remember that God's saving work goes beyond our local communities, as we are all called to be missionaries of hope.
Moses raises his hands during the battle, and when he grows weary, Aaron and Hur support him so that the people of Israel may prevail. This teaches us that faith and mission cannot be lived in isolation, but that we need mutual support to persevere in difficult times.
Timothy is encouraged to be faithful to what he has learned, to proclaim the Word in season and out of season, persevering even in difficult times. As missionaries, every baptized person is called to bear witness to the Gospel with fidelity and courage.
Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow who does not give up in her quest for justice. She pressures the unjust judge until he grants her what she asks. Jesus uses this parable to exhort us to pray always without fainting. God hears the cry of his people and acts, but we must persevere in faith.
Now, as we reflect on World Mission Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reminds us of the urgency of the mission: each of us is a missionary disciple, called to bring the light of Christ to the world, especially where the Church is young and growing.
Let us support one another in the mission, just as Aaron and Hur held the hands of Moses. Missionaries need solidarity, prayer, and accompaniment, for the mission is shared, it is communal.
Let us be persistent in proclaiming Christ. Like the widow who repeatedly pleaded, missionaries must persist. The Gospel must be proclaimed, and our perseverance bears witness to God's faithful love.
In mission, we depend on God's grace. Our prayer drives our missionary action. Let us be missionaries who see beyond the fleeting and the superficial. The Gospel demands depth, service, and love. The world needs young people who proclaim a different model of success, one rooted in Christ's dedication.
On this World Mission Sunday, let us renew our missionary commitment by praying for missionaries around the world, supporting the mission financially and spiritually, and living as missionary disciples in our daily lives, with our words, our witness, and our love for our neighbors.
May the Lord grant us perseverance, generosity, and a faith that moves hearts. And may the world see in each of us the face of Christ, the missionary of hope.
Reflection Questions
- How can I support others in their mission of faith, just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses when he grew weary?
- In what ways am I called to be a missionary of hope in my daily life, persevering in faith and prayer even when it is difficult?
