Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down, and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. (Is. 55:10-13)
“Disciples – Missionaries of Jesus Christ, so that the world may have life”; this was the commission that all believers received after the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America in Aparecida, Brasil in 2007 with Pope Benedict XVI.
A countless number of events have taken place since then, all from the heart of the Church at St. Peter’s. Pope Francis was elected as the first Latin-American to take the helm of Saint Peter's ship and make the sails swell with the winds of the Holy Spirit who unexpectedly chose him.
Pope Francis has repeated that same commissioning at World Youth Day and most recently in his Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel”; we are all Missionaries.
Before we were conceived in our mother’s womb, the Lord had already called us; His Word had already descended to our existence so that one day it would be fruitful.
It's likely that many years have passed since then, but His Word is never without consequence. His Word of forgiveness has produced healing in our lives; His Word of joy has become fruitful in gratitude; His Word of wisdom has developed in Light and confidence in our daily life; His Word of mercy has produced freedom in our hearts and now pours out all it feels with all its strength; His loving Word has produced fraternity; His Word soaks our interior and makes us His Missionaries.
Our missionary nature compels us to sow in all fields of our existence. Without a doubt, we will be blessed by rain in one of those fields. The seed is of divine quality and once it sprouts, it produces wonder.
Let us sow joy at work by becoming part of the construction and support of society with our honest living. Let us sow unity at home with our patience, gratitude and fidelity. In this moment, let us sow hope in the outside world with our testimony of enthusiasm through tears or laughter and through openness to the future. Let us sow faith as we praise our creator and redeemer as a community in the temple and in the silence of our hearts amid the urban traffic.
Rain will bless us in some places; perhaps even in the most insignificant, most arid and rocky place. Perhaps there, in that place, where some missionary believers boldly flung the seed of charity, of solidarity, of perseverance.
The divine rain fell in Argentina and gave us Pope Francis; it rained in Calcutta, and Mother Theresa sprung forth; in Mexico, many holy martyrs of the “Cristiada” blossomed, in Africa, it sprouted Josephine Bakita; in America, Dorothy Day appeared.
On their journey, missionary disciples everywhere have sowed that which has blossomed in the garden of their hearts. Some did it in the silence of their monastery during the many hours of intercessory prayer for divine rain; some in tireless apostolate among the marginalized who reside in the byways of our societies; others in leadership roles, turning and cultivating the earth so that it may produce new flowers and fruits of justice and brotherhood; others by becoming an echo of the Word through preaching and catechesis, etc.
In the garden of Mary’s heart, The Word germinated, gave, and continues to give us fruits of Eternal Life.
Let us continue sowing for it will rain bucketfuls.
Most Rev. Eusebio Elizondo, MSpS, is the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle.
NORTHWEST CATHOLIC - April 2014