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INTENTION : |
FOR A SHARED MISSION :
Let us pray that the Church continues to sustain a synodal lifestyle in every way, as a sign of co- responsibility, promoting the participation, communion and mission shared by priests, religious and laity.
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A Tireless Shared Mission
The Lord's command "Go and invite!" makes "mission" a constant going out to invite others to the Lord's banquet. We proclaim the Good News for the very purpose of encountering God and entering into communion with Him. A shared mission, therefore should be tireless! For God, great in love and rich in mercy, constantly sets out to encounter all men and women, and to call them to the happiness of his kingdom, even in the face of their indifference, or refusal. Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, and Messenger of the Father, went out in search of the lost sheep of the people of Israel and desired to go even further, in order to reach even the most distant sheep (cf. Jn 10:16). Both before and after his resurrection, he told his disciples, "Go!", thus involving them in his own mission (cf. Lk 10:3; Mk 16:15). The Church, for her part, in fidelity to the mission she has received from the Lord, will continue to go to the very ends of the earth, to set out over and over again, without ever growing weary, or losing heart, in the face of difficulties and obstacles.
We continue to pray, as we thank God for the new and numerous missionary vocations needed for the task of evangelizing the very ends of the earth.
Every Christian is called to take part in this universal mission by offering his or her own witness to the Gospel in every context, so that the whole Church can continually go forth with her Lord and Master to the "crossroads" of today's world. "Today's drama in the Church is that Jesus keeps knocking on the door, but from within, so that we will let him out! Often, we end up being an 'imprisoning' Church which holds the Lord captive, and keeps him as 'its own', whereas the Lord came for mission and wants us to be missionaries".
Christ's mission has to do with the fullness of time, as he declared at the beginning of his preaching: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mk 1:15). Christ's disciples are called to continue the mission of their Lord and Master. Here, the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the eschatological character of the Church's missionary outreach is clear: "The time for missionary activity extends between the first coming of the Lord and the second..., for the Gospel must be preached to all nations before the Lord shall come (cf. Mk 13:10)" (Ad Gentes, 9).
While the world sets before us the various "banquets" of consumerism, selfish comfort, the accumulation of wealth and individualism, the Gospel calls everyone to the divine banquet, marked with joy, sharing, justice, and fraternity in communion with God, and with others.
This fullness of life, which is Christ's gift, is anticipated even now in the banquet of the Eucharist, which the Church celebrates at the Lord's command in memory of him. The invitation to the eschatological banquet that we bring to everyone in our mission of evangelization is intrinsically linked to the invitation to the Eucharistic table, where the Lord feeds us with his Word and with his Body and Blood.
In this regard, Pope Francis reiterates that "we cannot approach the Eucharistic table without being drawn into the mission which, beginning in the very heart of God, is meant to reach all people". The Eucharistic renewal that many local Churches are laudably promoting in the post-Covid era will also be essential for reviving the missionary spirit of each member of the faithful. Thus, with greater faith and heartfelt enthusiasm we should recite loudly and emphatically at every Mass: "We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection, until you come again"!
Co-responsibility in Communion and Mission
Despite Christianity being a minority religion in Asia (only 3.31% of Catholics make up the Asian population, and in several places, less than 1%), there is a great sense of love for Jesus and His Church.
The Asians respond to the need of authentic, prophetic, servant-leadership that is dependent upon, and leads to continuous conversion. It is evident that, to a large extent, the synodal journey is made possible with the awareness and willingness of the people of God to embrace this reality.
In spite of these challenges, the call to co-responsibility remains crucial. "The participation of the laity, especially those from marginalized and minority communities, is essential for the Church to truly reflect the diversity and richness of the People of God". In the Asian context, this involves addressing cultural barriers and fostering a more inclusive Church, where all members, regardless of their background, or status, are invited to contribute actively to the Church's mission.
Promoting Participation Across All Vocations
For synodality to be truly effective, it must include the participation of all vocations. In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (2013), Pope Francis highlighted the importance of creating spaces for genuine dialogue and participation: "A synodal Church is a Church which listens, which realizes that listening is more than simply hearing. It is a mutual listening in which everyone has something to learn"
For synodality to flourish in Asia, there must be a concerted effort to promote participation across all vocations within the Church: priests, religious, and laity. Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation following the Synod, Communio et Missio (2024), reiterated this point: "A synodal Church is one where every member, especially those who have historically been on the peripheries, is encouraged to participate fully in the life and mission of the Church."
In Asia, this means challenging the existing power dynamics and creating opportunities for laypeople to take on leadership roles within the Church. This calls for "a renewed commitment to forming lay leaders who are equipped to contribute to the Church's mission, fostering a culture of dialogue and mutual respect" (2).
Living Synodality: A Call to Action
The plurality of cultures and traditions in Asia requires a sensitive approach to synodality, one that respects local customs while promoting a genuine spirit of collaboration and shared leadership. (2).
To sustain a synodal lifestyle, the Church must embrace ongoing conversion and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance. This involves not only fostering a culture of dialogue but also addressing the structural and cultural barriers that prevent full participation. This in turn, requires humility, patience, and a willingness to engage in honest and loving dialogue. The Synod's final document calls for "a more inclusive approach that values the contributions of all members of the Church, recognizing that true synodality requires the courage to listen, to speak, and to act together" (1).
Conclusion : A mission that includes "Everyone".
This is the heart of mission: that 'all', excluding no one. Every mission of ours, then, is born from the heart of Christ in order4 that he may draw all to Himself'. Today, in a world torn apart by divisions and conflicts, Christ's Gospel remains the gentle yet firm voice that calls individuals to encounter one another, to recognize that they are brothers and sisters, and to rejoice in harmony amid diversity. "God our Saviour desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim.2:4). Let us never forget, then, that in our missionary activities wse are asked to preach the Gospel to all: "Instead of seeming to impose new obligations [we] should apear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizen of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet" (E G, 14).
The mission for all requires the commitment of all. We need to continue our journey towards a fully synodal and missionary Church in the service of the Gospel. Synodality is essentially missionary and, vice versa, mission is always synodal. Consequently, close missionary cooperation today is all the more urgent and necessary, both in the universal Church, and in the particular Churches. Let us pray that the Lord may guide us and help us to be a more synodal, and an even more missionary Church.
Adapted from:
- https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/missions/documents/20240125-giornata-missionaria.html
- Final Document of the Continental Stage in Asia, 2024
- How to be a synodal Church on mission? GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE SYNOD, Vatican, 14 March 2024
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