Luis U De Dios

This homily is given during the mass of the sending forth at the beginning of a pastoral

summer mission. The participants are adults and young adults. In this mission, they will

evangelize and catechize the members of the community they are visiting. Additionally, they

will collaborate with any Catholic social program present in the parishes they will visit.

Gospel: Matthew 10. 26-42

Hola hermanos y hermanas.

As we gathered in this church to celebrate this Eucharist, I couldn't help but notice that

this mission is full of very happy faces. I saw a lot of people smiling at each other, having

friendly conversations with one another. I felt an overall excitement to begin this journey. First

of all, I would like to thank you for being part of this experience, and I am excited to celebrate

this Eucharist with you, where we, as people of God, entrust our work to God.

Dear friends, starting a journey is an exciting moment, and we have all experienced that.

We feel excitement when we begin a new year in school, a new job, a new position, or when we

go on a trip, etc. However, I have a question for you: Have we kept the excitement for the entire

journey? I personally would say no. It is a natural thing not to keep the initial excitement of the

journey for the whole journey.

And we know how the usual trials of travel wear on our excitement. We are tired. We are

eating foods we do not normally eat. We are traveling with people we perhaps do not know well.

We are living out of a suitcase. We may take longer to return home. Mission trips have the extra

challenge of immersion into new communities that may or may not be open to the message and

good works we intend to offer.

I recall one particular mission experience in Mexico. During this time, a colleague and I

were going door to door to share the Good News. We were dressed in clerics, clearly

representing the church. A man stopped us on the street and called us ignorants. I remember
 Luis U De Dios

feeling surprised and upset. In hindsight, it was a moment that I realized that preaching the

Gospel was not always going to be easy. How was I to recover the initial excitement of my

mission?

Fortunately, today’s Gospel provides guidance on how we should approach the mission.

This passage is part of what is called the “Missionary Discourse.” This section is intended to be a

teaching to those who want to proclaim the good news in word and deed. The discourse, as a

whole, is a call that is not specific to leaders, teachers, or the twelve apostles. This section invites

the community to perform specific actions to imitate Jesus.

Matthew presents information regarding the calling, commission, and recommendations

for God's missionaries in today’s passage. He offers some warnings and recommendations for

the apostles, showing us some things that apply to their present situation, as well as a look at

what missionary work may be in the future until the time of his second coming.

So let’s take a closer look at the warnings that Matthew offers. In this passage, Jesus says

that he came to bring not just peace, but peace and the sword. This is striking as we do not

associate Jesus and the Gospel message with weaponry and violence. Even more striking is Jesus

setting family members against one another. It is confusing to hear the Prince of Peace set

children against their parents.

We know that there must be a deeper meaning to this passage as Jesus would not promote

such divisiveness. Instead, we are learning about the inevitable conflict that will result when

sharing the Gospel with others. As evidenced by the Passion of Jesus, when a message of love is

shared, it is often met with resistance and conflict. Just as the cross is a symbol of what can

happen when pure love is expressed in the world, those commissioned to share that love with

others most likely will be met with similar resistance, hate, and discord. It is where love meets

human sinfulness.
 Luis U De Dios

Fortunately, that is not the end of the story (or the passage!). Jesus assures us that when

we take up the cross of sharing the Good News, we are united with him when we encounter the

conflict that will undoubtedly occur. We become part of the love that he embodies. Furthermore,

he assures us that there will be people along our journey that welcome us with open arms. There

will be other saints along our journeys who provide strength, courage, and comfort as we work

together to spread the Gospel message. As Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me

and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

And this is what carried me through when I experienced that moment of resistance in my

own mission experience. I had my own moment of division, of conflict. I could give into fear and

pack up all of my hopes and excitement for the experience and head home. But as today’s Gospel

reminds us, Jesus says to be not afraid.

And you should not be afraid either. As Pope Francis encouraged young people to make a

mess (and then help clean it up), our community encourages you, too, to shake things up. To

make people uncomfortable with your deep love. By doing the right thing. By giving yourself to

the new community and culture that you will be visiting. By honoring and respecting the culture

and customs already in place.

So hold onto that excitement that you are feeling. And to perhaps let go any fears and

anxieties that you are holding onto. You are not alone. The community is here to support you and

your fellow missionaries will be by your side. And Jesus the Christ has shown us the way

forward. This will not be easy, but we always knew that it would not be. Nothing worth doing

well ever is. And this is an action of love. What more extraordinary journey could you take?

May God bless you on your mission. We will be holding you in prayer.