“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” ( Mk
16:15) These words are presented as the last instruction of Jesus to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. They now have the responsibility of proclaiming the good news as he had done. And they must do so with courage. Note the universality of the mission: “to all the world”, “to the whole of creation”. Pope Francis talks of the Church needing to go to the frontiers – to those people who
have not yet heard the good news (whether geographically far or near). Jesus being our Master and Teacher had set His eyes on the Kingdom of heaven and not limited by earthly life. He had set His heart on the designs of God’s Will and not restricted by human desires. He had made a decision, a decision to shape destiny according to God’s Will! We too as Christians are called to follow the footsteps of our Beloved Master, to be a witness for the Kingdom of God is the call and duty of every Christian. It is a decision to be made, It is a decision to be lived, It is a decision to be nurtured. Christ made this decision of being entirely and wholly dedicated to His mission and He invites His disciples, His followers, to also commit themselves to the mission. Jesus made a decision to be faithful and loyal to the mission and duties entrusted to Him.
Our life as a witness for Christ and His Kingdom is sometimes greatly influenced and prejudiced. We sometimes don’t mind being a little relaxing on some Church teachings, making some adjustments to remain popular and not have a bad name and even diluting some values in order to appear as secular and sociable. The Church is often under tremendous pressure to change some of Her moral
teachings, it is often under blatant attacks to alter some of Her time-and-tested values. Most often, the motive behind all such attacks are a life of ease, a life of comfort, a life of personal satisfaction etc…
Christ needs witnesses who are willing to undergo pains and persecutions, all for the sake of Him and His Love, All for the sake of the Kingdom and its values, All for the sake of His Church and Her teachings. In his words, “Not to answer the vocation as I ought, would be to provoke the justice of God” Let us be true and faithful to the vocation we have received and the way of life we have chosen. Christ needs witnesses who are willing to live His teachings and teach His teachings. Christ needs witnesses who are willing to give up their physical life in the face of being persecuted for Him and depend on Him as the true treasure and in social life to bear insults and humiliations to live His values. Yes, Destiny is shaped by moments of decision!
Are we – you and I – ready to shape our destiny as per God’s Holy and Perfect Will? What is our decision?
God Bless!
Rev. Fr Andrew Mwangi.