The Missionary

He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

To be a Christian is to be a missionary. The life of the Spirit need not remain stagnant. Indeed God's love cannot but radiate outwards into the world...the world which awaits the love of God who alone fulfills and satisfies. The imperative of Christ is not only a marching order for all Christians but a unique characteristic of the Word of God. It works within filling the heart with so much joy that overflows...making it possible to go where one's personal comforts will not usually allow. Yes, there will be opposition, difficulties and even emotional pains but victory is assured ---for doing battle for the Almighty....one cannot be defeated.



The mission field is an area for the brave and daring not for the faint-hearted. But of course, no one goes to a battle even before counting the costs. The goal and the harvest is so great that what one can do-- can only be a matter of how much one can give. For the giving, Mother Teresa once said, "...give until it hurts." This brings us to the reality of the cross because giving among Christians will always be sacrificial. It does not depend on where one wants to go but where the Spirit leads them. Jesus once said to Peter: "Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." (John 21:18) The Lord said these words but only after He asked Peter the three-fold question: "Do you love me?"

How can I ever answer You, Lord...if you asked me this question. Will I give you the proper and expected answer? But that won't work, Lord because You know what goes in my heart. I cannot simply lie to You, Lord. Will I rather ask You Lord to change the question because we know what happens to those who have loved You. I must confess. . . I am afraid. I have heard once that there is no fear in love but perfect love cast out fear . . . so that's it . . . my love is not perfect. I have so many attachments . . . so many things that I simply cannot let go. Then how can I be a missionary? How can you ever send someone like me?

Koinonia

As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. (John 15:9-12)

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We are all created to be with God that is to be in communion with God. God is love and that is because God is a communion of love of three Divine Persons. The communion of love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is so complete; their unity is so perfect that there is only one God who reaches out to us. This reaching out simply means God created and saved us because of God's great love.

We can only remain in God's communion if we remain in God's love; that is, if we bring God's love to one another. To our families, communities, the society and church.

Koinonia is the anglicisation of a Greek word (κοινωνία) that means communion by intimate participation.

The Rosary: A Marian Treasure

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

All these experiences with the Lord have always been precious to Mary and this has made Her indeed the first Christian and the foremost disciple. The rosary embodies the meditations of Christ's life and passion that should fire up the ministry of any disciple who is serious into following Christ. These events are ever in the minds and hearts of Christians if they need to purify their intentions regarding their decision to work for the Kingdom. While it starts with visualizing them in their minds, it ends up in being affected in their hearts and therefore spilling up in their apostolate. Thus making the meditated gospel events more personal and meaningful because they have been painted with one's joys and pains.

The rosary allows us to pray the Lord's prayer and the angelic salutation of Mary and at the same time be immersed in the gospel events. This practice will eventually initiate the Christian to mental prayer which is assisted by word-based prayers such as the "Our Father" and the "Hail Mary." So it is also important that we take into consideration the value of the words and phrases in these two common prayers which many already knew by heart especially those who have been studying in Catholic schools.

Unless we transcend the boredom and repetitiveness of the Rosary prayer then we would not really understand what it is and how it can make us see and feel God's love working in our lives.