Today, our parish celebrated the Mission Sunday though the Diocese had celebrated it publicly in the Hong Kong Stadium last Sunday. There are a lot of things to reflect on.
Preaching the gospel to the world is the raison d'être of the Church. Jesus would have remained on earth but he had not. He ascended to heaven for the sake of the maturity of our faith. Jesus commissioned us to preach the gospel to the world so that our faith in God would have a chance to grow and reach perfection. It is up to us to cultivate this faith or leave it withered through the lack of preaching what we believe and practising what we preach. Last Sunday, the liturgy in the Hong Kong Stadium was grand and many participants found it moving. To a certain extent, the celebration has fulfilled its preaching mission.
Now, let me return to the reflection of the readings today.
Isaiah prophesied what the future Church would be like. It would be catholic and embrace all peoples.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising (Isaiah 60:3).
Revelation is revealing. It tells us that the universal Church embraces both saints and sinners.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen (Revelation 1:7).
At the end of the world, every eye will see Christ coming down from heaven, including both those who pierced him and those who wailed for him. Who pierced him? They are not just the Roman soldier but all who have sinned. Who will wail for him? They are those sinners who have repented. They wail not only for the sufferings of Jesus but also their sins which are the causes of Jesus' sufferings. Once more, the Bible has shown us that there are both saints and sinners within God's Church. Within the Church, there are people who are prepared to pierce Jesus. There are also those who repent.
The gospel is taken from the last part of Jesus' prayer in the Last Supper. Just as the Father has sent him to save this world, Jesus also sent the Church on the mission to save the world.
As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world (John 17:18).
The mission of the Church originates from the mission of Jesus. Just as Jesus was sent by God to save the world, the Church should be prepared to take up a similar mission. This interpretation is supported by another verse below.
The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one (John 17:22).
Bear in mind that in the gospel of John, the word "glory" is the code word for Jesus' sufferings. Jesus suffered. So would the Church. Jesus had died an ignoble death. So would the Church. Through suffering, Jesus became one with God. Similarly, through suffering, we will become one with each other in the Church which is Jesus' vine, one with Christ and with God. Many martyrs have already experienced this union. With God's grace, we will receive this "glory".
Dear Lord, in sufferings we are united with You and through You with one another. Bestow on us the grace to embrace martyrdom in building the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Amen.
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