Oct 20., 2024 / General, Homilies, Soul Food
World Mission Sunday 2024
image from Canva
The readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time bring us face to face with a powerful message about humility, service, and what true greatness is. In the Gospel of Mark that we just proclaimed, James and John ask Jesus for positions of glory in His kingdom. Their request reveals a misunderstanding of what it means to follow Christ. Jesus responds by teaching them—and us—that true greatness is found not in power or prestige but in humble service. “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. ” Jesus Himself provides the ultimate example: “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In the world we live in, greatness is often associated with status, power, and authority. Yet, Jesus flips this understanding on its head. He shows us that greatness in the kingdom of God is not about how much control we can exercise or how high we can climb, but about how low we can stoop and bend in order to serve others. It is a radical call to humility, love, and self-sacrifice.
Jesus doesn’t just teach this; He himself lived it. His whole life was one of service, ultimately culminating in His death on the cross. He did not seek to dominate but to heal, to teach, to give His life so that others might have life. For us, His followers, this means that if we want to be great in the eyes of God, we must imitate Christ’s humility. We must be willing to serve without seeking reward, to love without expecting anything in return, and to give ourselves in a way that lifts others up. Humble, loving service, then, is the path to true greatness in God’s Kingdom.
This Sunday, we also celebrate World Mission Sunday, a reminder of the Church’s universal mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. The theme of service and humility ties beautifully into this celebration. The mission of the Church is not about imposing our will on others or seeking to expand power. Instead, it is about serving the world in love, sharing the Good News of salvation, and living out the example of Christ who gave His life for others.
The call to mission is a call to follow Jesus in service and humility. Each of us, as baptized Christians, is sent to be a witness to Christ in the world. We are called to embody His love and humility, to go to the peripheries of society where people are suffering, neglected, or forgotten. On this World Mission Sunday, we are reminded that this mission is not just for priests, religious, or missionaries in distant lands—it is for all of us, right where we are. Whether in our families, workplaces, or communities, we are called to be servants, bringing Christ’s love to others. By following Jesus’ example and living it out, we thus partake in the Mission of the Church.
But we ask ourselves, “what does this humble service look like in our daily lives?” Well, it may be as simple as listening to a friend who is going through a tough time, helping a colleague who is struggling, or reaching out to someone in need. It may also involve standing up for those who are marginalized, advocating for justice, and working to alleviate the suffering of others.
Every act of kindness, every gesture of love, every moment we give ourselves to others in Christ’s name becomes a participation in the Church’s mission to the world.
As we continue to ponder and reflect on these readings and celebrate World Mission Sunday, we are reminded that following Jesus means embracing a life of service and humility. It is through this service that we participate in the mission of the Church and reflect the love of Christ to the world. Let us ask for the grace to serve with humble hearts, to love as Christ loved, and to go out into the world, carrying the Good News not just in our words but in the way we live our lives.
In the end, the greatness that Jesus speaks of is not measured by how much we accomplish in the eyes of the world, but by how much we have loved and served in the spirit of Christ. May we, as His disciples, strive to serve with humility and love, joining in the Church’s mission to bring the Gospel to all people, especially the least, the last, and the lost.
Homily delivered by Fr. Mamert Mañus, SJ
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Anticipated Mass)
19 October 2024
Cenacle Retreat House
