All Are Missionaries
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- Written by Fr. Jack Garvey M.S.
Editor: Vacationing missionaries are a proverbial “breath of fresh air.” Fr. Jack Garvey wrote this note after preaching back in North America.
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| Fr. Jack Garvey, M.S., La Salette Missionary in Argentina |
“Living and working with a people who suffer many privations gives all missionaries a different perspective on life. They serve a people who, despite their problems, maintain their courage, a people who grub at the land – sometimes not too fertile – hoping to grow sufficient crops, a people who seek more gainful employment, a people of faith in God and a people truly gracious toward their fellow human beings. It is our privilege to work among them.
When we come home to the U.S. every three years on vacation, it is indeed a return to our native land, a return to a lifestyle of relative comfort and convenience, a return to a land where air conditioning, relatively new cars and comfortable homes are perceived as natural. While enjoying this lifestyle, vacationing missionaries cannot forget the struggles of their people and the mission of the Church. And so, thanks to the Mission Cooperative Programs in many dioceses, each weekend they frequent different parishes to give mission appeals, speaking to God’s people of the missionary Apostolate of the Church and the lives and struggles of peoples in the lands where they minister.
…While visiting at home, I often preach many mission appeals. I see these weekends as an opportunity to bring to the people back home an increasing awareness of the missionary work of the Church. It is my custom is to stand outside the church and greet people after Mass. One Sunday after Mass to my great surprise a lady spoke to me about that day’s Gospel reading. It referred to the Lord’s choice of the 72 whom he sent out 2 by 2 to preach the Gospel (Luke: 10:1). The lady said to me: “Of course priests and religious are missionaries, but aren’t we also missionaries? Those 72 referred to in this morning’s Gospel were not priests or religious but laity.” She had indeed gotten the message. Christ founded a missionary Church in which each believer has an important mission to fulfill.
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| Icon of the 70 (72) disciples (Luke 10:1) |
During his public life Jesus often preached in the synagogues of Judea and Galilee and performed many miracles. He cured the sick, cleansed the lepers, forgave sinners and outside the tomb of Lazarus, he cried out, “Lazarus come forth,” and the deceased, entombed Lazarus walked out into God’s sunlight.
But after his own Resurrection Jesus never appeared in public. He never preached in a synagogue or publicly entered the temple in Jerusalem. He never performed a miracle in front of the multitude. He only appeared to chosen witnesses whose responsibility it would be to preach to the world about his Resurrection and the message of love he had taught. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.
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| Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus, National Gallery, London |
Then on the road to Emmaus he appeared to two disciples, more of his laity, who recognized him in the breaking of the bread. Later that Easter Sunday he appeared to the Apostles, his priests, gathered in the upper room where He gave them his Easter message of Peace. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations...” (Lk 24:45-47).
Yes, every faith-filled person, whether laity or priest, is a member of this missionary Church charged with preaching the Good News of salvation. I have now returned to my mission in Argentina. I am happy to have contributed to the efforts of bringing a greater awareness of the Church’s mission to my fellow Americans. I know I leave behind me other missionaries, laity and priests alike, called to do the same thing.
