The Mission (A reflection for Ascencsion Sunday Mk. 16:15-20)

I enjoy listening to the soundtrack of "The Mission", a film about the mission of the Jesuits in Paraguay during the reign of Spain. I just love listening to it, it has a mixture of emotions: joy, sorrow and triumph. I haven't watched the full movie but I saw some significant clips from the film and one scene that really moved me was when invaders attacked the mission area of the Jesuits they made a procession from their small chapel bearing the Blessed Sacrament by Fr. Gabriel and the natives pray as they process along the route. Some natives were even shot by the bullets of the invaders and finally hitting Fr. Gabriel and died. One native picked-up the monstrance and led the other natives to continue their procession. In my mind I said "Mission Accomplished".

This Sunday, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven 40 days after His resurrection. The first reading and the Gospel are parallel for this Sunday because both proclaims the glorious ascension of Christ. Jesus entrusted to the apostles the mission to spread the Gospel and make disciples unto the ends of the Earth. As present disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, the mission has been passed to us by the grace of our baptism.

As I ponder on the movie "The Mission", I ask myself "is it really difficult to become a missionary?" First, you will be very far from your family or to your homeland in case you are assigned in a mission abroad. Second, learning to cope or adjust to the culture of your mission territory. Last, you should be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the salvation of the souls of those you administer the mission. Going back to the Gospel, I can see what the Lord meant in Mark 16:17-18. In my reflection, the demons referred by Jesus are the "demons" of the old ways of our life or the sin we have committed, we personally cast out that "demon" when we repent our sins and invoke the name of Jesus to forgive and have mercy on us. Speaking in every tongue is another gift, speaking in other tongues means that we are called to communicate with each other and bring the good news to others. Missionaries abroad have learned to speak the native tongue of their mission area but all of us understand one language and that is the language of love and faith, which is not only spoken but also seen. We are not harmed by poison because we believe in our God. It's not the literal poison or toxin that would harm us but I am referring to the poison of our problems, burdens and trials that we meet as we journey this life. We are not harmed by those "poisons" because we have an antidote inside of us that will protect us from those poisons and that antidote is God who dwells in  us. Lastly, a believer heals the sick when he/she lays a hand to a sick brethren and pray to God for the recovery of the brethren. But we also heal our brethren who is sick spiritually and emotionally by embracing them at times when they feel alone, holding each other's hands and praying for each other for a spiritual or emotional healing.

We are called to be Christian missionaries, some are called for an extraordinary mission like the characters in "The Mission" or missionaries abroad and here in our own country. But all of us have a common mission to proclaim God's love and to love one another as true brothers and sisters in Christ. God bless us all.

(here is the mission soundtrack by Ennio Morricone from youtube)