THE LAST WORD

OUR COMMON MISSIONARY MANDATE

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation…” (Mark 16:15)

BY Rev Dr Antony Situma | Scripture Lecturer, St Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary Tindinyo, Kenya

INITIATIVES OF New Evangelization are a demonstration that Christ’s mission mandate given to the disciples is still urgent, and it concerns all the Christian faithful. Christ’s mission is still very far from completion, and all must commit themselves wholeheartedly to its service. The missionary thrust remains a critical concern despite the increase of local churches and their clergy as well as workers in the apostolate, plus a renewed enthusiastic vitality of the laity for the work of evangelization today.

There is a need for a fresh impulse in missionary activity in the Church today by focusing the commitment and goodwill of all Christians on ecology. Historically, mission has been understood as respectful dialogue without relativism, authentic inculturation without doctrinal compromise, service to the poor (humanitarian assistance) without reducing mission to development, and universal salvation without abandoning the Church’s obligation to evangelize. It is also important to consider the ecological aspect. The mission mandate that envisaged all creation was an indication that mission is also ecological. The ecological perspective in mission can be effectively and efficiently undertaken by witnessing. The proclamation of the Word alone cannot exhaust the desire of Christ in Acts 1:8. Social action that involves ecological sensitization is a vital core element of mission. Since charity and liberation are essential expressions of mission, the preferential option for the created world must be considered.

The value of schools, hospitals, humanitarian work, justice, peace, human rights, and development remains a genuine expression of Christian charity and missionary witness. These are elements that affect the human person directly. Mindful consideration needs to be given to the environment in which the same human person lives and operates. Concern for our common home is a missionary obligation. Mission is therefore a call to witness the risen Christ from an ecological perspective.

Consequently, missionary activity shall renew the Church, revitalize faith, promote Christian identity, and offer fresh enthusiasm and new incentives wherever the ecological imprint is granted space. Faith shall be strengthened when it is evenly shared with the created world. The commitment to the Church’s universal mission finds great inspiration and support from the ecological initiatives. To go out to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation therefore means:

-to affirm and promote the gospel values that include the care for creation;
-to champion the removal of oppressive ideologies and political systems that neglect the common home;
-to hasten the process of discovering and appreciating the manifold gifts-especially the spiritual treasures-that God has bestowed upon every created being; and

-to promote a Christocentric social transformation that is geared towards the salvation of the whole universe.
This awareness calls on missionaries to move beyond mere proclamation to ecological social action. Missionary credibility will not only depend on the accurate and faultless transmission of sound doctrine but on the objective witnessing to the whole of creation. This missionary witnessing requires consistency in the care for creation, personal commitments in conserving the environment, and lifestyle decisions to consider every creature as a recipient of the Good News.

Reflection Questions: 

• Do I consider the mission mandate as a call for perpetual witnessing?
• Does my witnessing go beyond proclamation?
• What ecological initiatives do I undertake to demonstrate that mission is witnessing?