Pastor’s Corner for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, by Fr. Nobert Munekani SJ
The 15th of October is the third Sunday of Missionary Month, under the theme: “Hearts on fire, feet on the move”. Our eyes were “opened and recognized him” in the breaking of the bread. Jesus in the Eucharist is the source and summit of the mission. In his message for World Mission Day, Pope Francis says: “The fact that their hearts burned for the word of God prompted the disciples of Emmaus to ask the mysterious wayfarer to stay with them as evening drew near. When they gathered around the table, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him when he broke the bread”.
The risen Christ, then, is both the one who breaks the bread and, at the same time, the bread itself, broken for us. It follows that every missionary disciple is called to become, like Jesus and in him, through the working of the Holy Spirit, one who breaks the bread and one who is broken bread for the world. Here it should be remembered that breaking our material bread with the hungry in the name of Christ is already a work of Christian mission. How much more so is the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, which is Christ himself, a work of mission par excellence since the Eucharist is the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church” (Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2023).
The Evangelical passage of today emphasizes on the invitation to the wedding feast. The Old Testament promised a nuptial union between God and his people, and the Gospel presents Jesus as the bridegroom of the eagerly awaited wedding. God invites, calls to the Kingdom, freely and largely. “He sent other servants again… Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.” This new sending symbolizes the Church’s mission in the world and, that in the Church, the wheat, and the chaff merge. Now, a guest is not dressed in “a wedding garment” or his “Sunday best.” He should have changed, in other words, he should have converted himself.
Pope Francis reminds us that: “Missionary conversion remains the principal goal that we must set for ourselves as individuals and as a community.”The Word of God, which is addressed to everyone and calls us to conversion, makes us heralds. Indeed, Jesus walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and calls Simon and Andrew, two brothers who were fishermen. With his Word he invites them to follow him, telling them that he will make them “fishers of men” (Mt. 4:19), experts in seeking others. And just as in sailing and fishing they had learned to leave the shore and cast their nets into the deep, in the same way they would become apostles capable of sailing upon the open seas of the world, of going out to meet their brothers and sisters and proclaiming the joy of the Gospel. Let us feel that we are called by Jesus in person to proclaim his Word, to bear witness to it in everyday life. This is our mission: to become seekers of the lost, oppressed and discouraged, to bring them the consolation and the light of the Word. Jesus said: Go! (cf. Pope Francis, Homily for January 22, 2023).
For the sick
Let us continue to pray for the sick members of our parish especially Benedicta Ngwebelele, Phoebe Ngwenya and Andrew Ledwaba.
Rev. Fr. N. Munekani SJ
