Mission Sunday (Year A)

St. Cecilia Choir went on a picnic to see coral reef in Sai Kung this Sunday. So, we sang two Masses. Fr. Martin celebrated the 9:30 Mass. On this Mission Sunday, he shared with us several memorable experiences of his.
Before he became a priest, he worked in a hotel group. Once he took part in a fire services workshop run by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department. The workshop allowed the participants to know some basic fire-fighting know-how and to gain a first-hand survival experience in a hot, smoke-filled, pitch-dark enclosed environment. Of course, the participants had to put on the full gear of a fire-fighter: steel-loaded boots, fire-proof vestment, steel helmet, mask and oxygen cylinder etc. Suddenly, he gained more than 40 Kg. At first, he was a bit disoriented and had difficulty even moving his limbs or turning his head. He had to extinguish different sorts of fire up close with different agents: water, foam, carbon dioxide etc. The heat was scorching. Later, he had to grope his way out through the smoke-filled, pitch-dark labyrinth. From this experience, he deeply feels that fire-fighting and life-saving are really challenging and difficult. But this is to be expected because you are racing against time to save as many lives as possible. For him, this also applies to missionary work which is not just life-saving but soul-saving. Challenges and difficulties are to be expected. Luckily, we have Jesus accompanying us all along. When he commissioned his apostles to proclaim the gospel to the nations, he made the following promise.
and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age (Matthew 28:20b)
Fr. Martin is confident that Jesus will keep his promise. It remains for us to commit ourselves to accept this invitation to proclaim God's reconciliation to all peoples.
A few weeks ago, Fr. Martin went pilgrimage to Rome. He visited an ex-parish priest who was a missionary priest. When this priest was the parish priest, Fr. Martin was not yet baptized. He remembered taking part in the Christmas activities organized by the parish, drinking a dozen bottles of soft-drinks! After two such years, Fr. Martin began to attend catechumen class and was baptized. Fr. Martin agrees very much with what St. Paul wrote in the epistle to Romans, which we read this morning.
But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news! (Romans 10:14-15)
Truly, without preachers, people would have no chance to hear the good news. Without hearing it, people would not believe. Without believing it, people would not call upon Jesus to save them. Therefore, Christians have an unalienable obligation to preach this good news. There would be challenges, difficulties and rejections. But all these are to be expected. We are fighting a soul-saving battle like fighting fire.
In Rome, Fr. Martin visited the famous catacombs which stretch out for more than 50 Km, in three levels underground. It is a huge labyrinth. Christians were making a statement, telling the whole world they were not afraid to give up their lives for what they believed in. It bears witness to generations of Christians who were bold enough to affirm their identity as Christians with their lives. They were successful in inspiring others to pass on the baton. Nowadays, how do modern Christians inspire other peoples that what they believe is worth believing?

My dear Advocate, enable us to make good use of new media, new technology to proclaim Your good intention to the whole world. When we are discouraged, animate us with Your unspeakable, holy whispers. Amen.