People attend Mass during an Oct. 22, 2022 Missionary Discipleship event held at the Owensboro Convention Center. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Jesus’ mission is our mission!
BY DR. JEFF ANDRINI, OFFICE OF EVANGELIZATION AND DISCIPLESHIP
“The Church exists to evangelize” (Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 16). From the beginning of the Catholic Church, Jesus sent his disciples on mission to baptize and teach all he had taught them. He gives us this same commissioning today. We are to share the good news of God’s love, mercy and provision in our lives with the world, filled with the joy, knowledge, and experience of a relationship with God. Each of us is to be on mission.
At times in our history, the Catholic Church has been a bit like a football stadium on a Sunday afternoon. Twenty-two battle weary players in desperate need of a little rest and 80,000 fans in desperate need of a little exercise. The analogy is that we have depended on ordained and vowed religious to care for us and our world. The laity have been more like spectators and under-engaged in the mission. Today, like the Early Church, we are realizing that the Holy Spirit works through each of us. Scripture tells us that, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
How do we fuel the mission? There is only one way… we are limited human beings, and we need to be connected to the divine vine of Jesus Christ! “I am the vine, and you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15: 1-5). As we receive Jesus into our bodies in Holy Communion, we are invited to live in communion with the Trinity all week long. Our daily prayer lives are meant to be a source of strength and power and together with the sacraments of the Church; we are to live lives of joy and service to the world. The Holy Spirit plays an important role, as without God, we can do nothing of lasting worth, but connected to the Holy Spirit and in union with God. Jesus says, “rivers of living water that will flow from within him who believes in me” (John 7:38).
As Catholics, we have so many tools, practices and opportunities to grow in this divine life and live the mission of Jesus, but we must avail ourselves of these opportunities. I would like to invite you to one such event this month. The Parish Ministry and Leadership Conference, which will be held at the Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville on Saturday, August 24 from 8:30-3:30 p.m., is titled “Baptism: A call to share your Gifts.”
There will be Mass with Bishop Medley, keynote presentations by Fr. Wayne Cavelier and Dr. Jason Winkle and much more! Go to https://owensborodiocese.org/pml-conference/.
Join us and find many new ways to celebrate and live Year Three of the National Eucharistic Revival, titled “Sent on Mission.”
God bless you,
Jeff
Dr. Jeff Andrini is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship, and can be reached at [email protected].
Originally printed in the August 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
