What do we expect of our “missionaries”? To proclaim Jesus to the lost? To make disciples? Well, we should be advised that Jesus thinks of each one of us as His missionaries. Yeah, that’s a problem. Today’s reading from Joy to Your World! is found on pages 36 and 37:

“Another problem arises at this point: We have been taught to think of the harvest fields – the mission fields – as over there somewhere, across the seas, in a far country. Anywhere but right where we live. We celebrate the work of missionaries, and we are happy to support the mission outreach of our church by our giving and attendance at missions conferences. But we have no sense of being a people on mission or in mission just because we are those who have entered the joy of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

“We acknowledge that Jesus came to earth to bring the joy of the Lord and to make His blessings known far as the curse is found. But we fail to hear Him as He says, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (Jn. 20.21). Jesus the Bringer of Joy sends every-one who has entered His joy as a joy-bringer to the mission field of the world – your world.”

For reflection or discussion
1. Does your church have “missions” program? What is your role in it?

2. How should your being sent by Jesus be like the way He was sent by His Father?

Making disciples is an “as-you-are-going” proposition. It fits into our lives wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. This is our mission and calling from the Lord, and the sooner we embrace it, the more the Good News of Jesus will pervade our world. Send today’s podcast to a friend, then get together to discuss it. You can order Joy to Your World! from The Ailbe Bookstore. 

T. M. Moore

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