Every Christian, A Missionary

Ike Abastillas is an Electrical Engineer by profession. But he has embraced his vocation as a full-time evangelizer, retreat facilitator and youth minister. Those who know him fondly calls him Kuya Ike. In his younger days as a youth leader, he even volunteered to be a missionary in Papua New Guinea for two years. In fact, he personally met Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visit there. Today, Kuya Ike continues to be a missionary at home. He continues to give inspiring talks, humor-filled lectures, life-changing retreats to thousands of young people in Visayas and Mindanao. His life has become a message of God’s joy and love.

Jesus, in today’s gospel reading, sends his seventy-two disciples on a mission instructing them: “Go, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.. Cure the sick and proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand.” It might be tempting for us to think that these words of Jesus is something of the past. The truth is, by our baptismal calling, we are among the modern-day disciples called to continue Jesus’ mission. We are challenged to move out of our comfort zones and to take part in our own way the call to be missionaries. Christ tells you now: Go. Be my witness today!

In 1990, Pope John Paul II wrote the encyclical, Redemptoris Missio that speaks about the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate. He wrote this because he observed that missionary activity appeared to be waning. He insists that we need to be in mission because “in Christ alone are we set free from all alienation and doubt, He is the Good News for man and women of every age.” So we do not stop witnessing and proclaiming by our words and especially by our lives. Most of all, let us continue to pray for more “laborers” – more priestly vocation and lay apostles – to work in the vineyard of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to be an apostle and witness of your joy and love in where I am. Amen.