This is Mission Sunday so our thoughts turn to one of the great missionaries in the New Testament. Paul made three missionary journeys all over modern Turkey and Greece and then eventually went to Rome to evangelize the Gentiles.
When we think of missions we naturally think of going to another land to preach the Gospel like Paul. This brings the question of what does it take to be a missionary?
Rev. Joel DeSelm wrote an article for the Missionary Church Today titled “Want to be a better Witness?
A young missionary candidate has already passed the theological, psychological, and behavioral screenings in order to head to the mission field. All that remained was his interview with the main examiner for the mission agency. And so at 3:00 AM on a cold February morning, the young man walked into an office for his scheduled interview with the examiner. He waited until 8:00 AM when the examiner arrived. The examiner said, “Let us begin. First, please spell apple.”
“A-p-p-l-e” the young man replied.
Very good. Now let’s see how well you know figures. How much is three times five?”
“Fifteen” replied the applicant.
“Excellent” the examiner said. “I’m going to recommend you to the board for approval to become one of our missionaries. You have passed the test.”
At the board meeting the next day the examiner spoke very highly of the applicant and said, “I recommend him to you with no reservations. He has all of the qualifications to be an effective missionary on our staff. Let me explain…
“First, I tested him on sacrifice and self-denial. I told him to be at my house at three in the morning. He left a warm bed and came out on a cold winter morning without a word of complaint. Secondly, I tried him out on the follow-though and punctuality. He showed up as he said he would and he was there on time. Thirdly, I examined him on patience and flexibility. I made him wait for five hours to see me, after telling him to come at three.
Fourthly, I tested him on anger management issues. He didn’t show any sign of frustration, anger, or resentment; in fact, he didn’t even question my delay. Lastly, I evaluated his humility. I asked him questions that even a young child could answer and he showed no offense or irritation. I feel he meets the requirements we need for a missionary. I present him to you as a young man that the Lord can use mightily.”
I wonder if I would have passed that test, especially in my younger years when I was impatient and demanding.
When I was in High School, I felt called to be a missionary in Kenya to work in broadcasting for a protestant denomination. Television was just getting started in those days and trained workers were needed. Even though I failed to accept the call, God still worked with me over the years. Eventually, I became Catholic, listened to God’s call again and this time was ordained a deacon in 2007.
In the second reading Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, …”
The words “your work of faith and labor of love” really say it all. While Paul was a missionary, the people of Thessalonica lived there. Paul was praising them for faith and love for others in the city and neighborhoods where they lived.
There are many ways to serve. We do not always have to go far away to another land to learn a new language and culture. We do not have to join a religious order or become ordained.
The motto on the Alaskan Shepard newsletter published by the Mission Diocese of Fairbanks reads: “Some give by going to the Missions; Some go by giving to the Missions; Without both there are no Missions.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus understood that daily life places demands on our time and money when he said to repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But he also showed us that God was part of life’s equation when he said to repay to God what belongs to God. Please give as generously as you can to support the missionaries serving in other lands and cultures.
The mission field is all around us wherever we live. As we witness to those around us, will we display the qualities of the young missionary applicant? Are we willing to make sacrifices to serve others? Will we be patient when others don’t understand why we serve God? Will we be loving and kind in the face of ridicule and taunting? Some of us will serve in the mission fields; some of us will support by funding the mission programs; all of us will live God’s love to others. How will we repay to God what belongs to God?
