How brightly is the flame of faith burning in your life? Is it shining so brightly that you can't hardly wait to be sent into mission territory? An exit sign at a church summed it well as it said, "You are now entering mission country."
At the end of each celebration of the Eucharist we are sent forth with a missionary mandate to bring the Good News of salvation to all we meet. How well are we fulfilling that component of our baptismal calling?
Complacency, apathy, and indifference are descriptive words I hear too frequently in regard to the life of the Church. How could we allow anything connected with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to become mundane? As C.S. Lewis pointed out, "If Christianity is true, it is of infinite importance." Our walk with God cannot be dull and lifeless.
Each of us bears responsibility for nurturing our faith life. We cannot simply rely on being spoon-fed by the Church, by the pastor, or anyone else. There needs to be initiative and ownership of each baptized individual to eagerly seek out God's grace through prayer, study, and action. We depend upon the leadership of the Church to strengthen us in that journey, but we can never delegate our responsibility for spiritual growth to someone else entirely. We are a child of God walking in faith. When is the last time we asked God for an increase of that faith?
When we leave the church building and enter into mission country, are we thrilled and excited about the possibilities? Sharing the Good News should bring us immense joy. If we are reluctant to be faithful witnesses out in the world about what Jesus Christ has done for us, what is holding us back? Do we recognize and understand the many ways that God has moved in our lives? Are we aware of God's presence in our interactions with others?
Entering into mission territory fully equipped means that we have to understand our own relationship with God. If we just know about God, without really knowing God, it will be difficult to communicate a message that truly conveys the infinite love and mercy of God. My hope and prayer is that each of us will personally experience God's love profoundly. As we experience that love may we then grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace!
Mission Country--Here We Come!
At the end of each celebration of the Eucharist we are sent forth with a missionary mandate to bring the Good News of salvation to all we meet. How well are we fulfilling that component of our baptismal calling?
Complacency, apathy, and indifference are descriptive words I hear too frequently in regard to the life of the Church. How could we allow anything connected with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to become mundane? As C.S. Lewis pointed out, "If Christianity is true, it is of infinite importance." Our walk with God cannot be dull and lifeless.
Each of us bears responsibility for nurturing our faith life. We cannot simply rely on being spoon-fed by the Church, by the pastor, or anyone else. There needs to be initiative and ownership of each baptized individual to eagerly seek out God's grace through prayer, study, and action. We depend upon the leadership of the Church to strengthen us in that journey, but we can never delegate our responsibility for spiritual growth to someone else entirely. We are a child of God walking in faith. When is the last time we asked God for an increase of that faith?
When we leave the church building and enter into mission country, are we thrilled and excited about the possibilities? Sharing the Good News should bring us immense joy. If we are reluctant to be faithful witnesses out in the world about what Jesus Christ has done for us, what is holding us back? Do we recognize and understand the many ways that God has moved in our lives? Are we aware of God's presence in our interactions with others?
Entering into mission territory fully equipped means that we have to understand our own relationship with God. If we just know about God, without really knowing God, it will be difficult to communicate a message that truly conveys the infinite love and mercy of God. My hope and prayer is that each of us will personally experience God's love profoundly. As we experience that love may we then grow in wisdom, understanding, and grace!
Mission Country--Here We Come!
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