Missionaries of Hope: United with Christ in Unceasing Prayer

Readings: 1st: Exodus 17:8-13; Ps: 120; 2nd: 2 Tim 3:14-4, 2; Gos: Lk 18:1-8

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp., DMin, a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is Director of Santuario del Espiritu Santo, Dorado, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments, contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

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“How can they believe if they have not heard the message? How can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? How can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? How wonderful are the feet of the preachers of the good news!” (Ro 10:14ff).

Today, the twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate the 99th World Mission Day. For this reason, the mission “ad gentes“ continues to be the most urgent. All the members of the Church are called to participate in this mission. Today is a privileged moment to engage in prayer and concrete gestures of solidarity to support God’s mission.

It is worth noting that this Sunday’s mission is particularly special. This is because we are celebrating it during a Jubilee year of hope, and although we have a new Pope, Leo XIV, the papal message for this year’s Mission Sunday (“Missionaries of Hope Among all Peoples”) is from our former Pope, Francisco. This was permitted by Pope Leo XIV.

Today’s celebration is a celebration of grace because the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, offers wisdom and strength to those who are obedient to his actions. It is a celebration of joy because Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, who was sent to evangelize the world, supports and accompanies our missionary efforts.

It is also a celebration of hope. This is why the Holy Father chose “Missionaries of Hope Among all Peoples” as a motto for this 99th World Mission Sunday, because “It reminds individual Christians and the entire Church, the community of the baptized, of our fundamental vocation to be, in the footsteps of Christ, messengers and builders of hope. I trust that it will be for everyone a time of grace with the faithful God who has given us new birth in the risen Christ “to a living hope (cf. 1 Pet 1:3-4).”

In today’s first reading, God demonstrated to the Israelites that he was the one in charge of their lives, history, and circumstances. Of course, their success depended totally on Him. Moses, the great prophet and intercessor, did what he knew best, unceasing intercession for his people. Through his action and intercession, he gave credence to this famous saying, “Prayer is the master key to success.”

As long as Moses lifted his hands to God in prayers, the Israelite’s soldiers were victorious in battle. This reading reminds us that our victory in life depends much on God. It also reminds us that the solution to our daily struggles and quest has both a spiritual and physical dimension.

Hence, if we neglect God in our daily struggles while trusting only in our own strength, we may not succeed. So, we must be steadfast in prayer. Also, we must do what we have to do. In other words, prayer and action. We must constantly abide in God’s presence with our minds and hearts lifted to him in prayers in all life circumstances. Like Moses and the psalmist, if we continuously lift our hands and eyes to God in prayer, “Our help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). This is because He never fails.

In today’s second reading, Paul reminds us of the importance of the scriptures in our Christian journey of faith. It is a missionary journey that must continuously inspire hope in all of us missionaries and those to whom we are called to preach the gospel.

As an inspired Word of God, the scriptures must be the guiding principles of our daily life and action, and of course, our prayer life. Hence, if we are to remain faithful to God through continuous prayer, we must also learn to meditate on His Word.

In light of today’s general theme, Lectio Divina (the prayerful and meditative reading of the Word of God) becomes very important. We must pray with His Word and let it illuminate our minds. This is because, through constant and prayerful study of the inspired Word of God, we find the much-needed faith to preserve in prayer in the presence of God.

In today’s gospel, Jesus further underscores the importance of continuous prayer. Luke writes, “He told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually without fainting.” Through His parable, Jesus teaches us to be consistent and perseverant in prayer at all times. Of course, as a man of prayer himself, he knew how important prayer was for his disciples.  It will be the key to their success in their mission.

The same goes for all of us Christians. If we must have any success in our respective vocation and missions, we must make prayer the foundation of our Christian life. It is an indispensable tool that every Christian needs for success. The prayer in question here is that which never gives up and that which draws strength from the word of God.

Finally, we must never be tired of praying because God is never tired of listening to us. He might take time to open the door like the judge in today’s parable. However, if we do not quit, He will surely hear and answer us.

Happy Mission Sunday to you all!

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!