Riches in poverty

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This weekend, the Church celebrates World Mission Sunday.  Once a year, the entire Church throughout the world turns its attention to the work of proclaiming the gospel in places of the world which have not heard it, or which have the most difficulty in putting it into practice.

Inspired by the final chapters of the gospel of Matthew (Mt 28:19-20), the theme chosen for this year's observance of this day is Go! Proclaim the gospel!  This call, originally given to the disciples on the shore of the sea of Tiberius, has also been passed on to us through the centuries, but how exactly do we proclaim the gospel?  To whom do we need to speak in sharing this message?

The first reading of today's liturgy (Ex 17:8-13) reminds us that God's chosen people, like many refugees in our world today, were vulnerable as they began their long migration out of Egypt.  Without warning, they found themselves surrounded by fierce enemies.  In the scriptural passages leading up to this threat, there were several examples of how a faithful God lovingly protected this tiny remnant of society on their journey, making a path through the Red Sea, providing bread from heaven and so on.  It was natural then that Moses should turn again to God and ask for help.

The parable told by Jesus in today's gospel (Lk 18:1-8) is another example of God's people who have always turned to Him when we are in need.  In this case, the example of a widow is used by Jesus to show that persistence and hope are sometimes necessary in prayer before our suplications are answered.  In the context of modern-day Canadian socieity, this example may not make much sense, but consider for a moment that in parts of Africa even today, the family of a husband who has died can legally come and claim his house and possessions, putting the husband's widow and children literally on the street.  In such a climate, widows have little if any influence to change their lot in life.  They are truly poor and defenseless.

Just two weeks ago, we gathered here to give thanks for the bounty of the harvest.  We have perhaps taken time over these past few days to truly recognize how blessed we are, and we have shared the bounty of these riches with others in need.  Although Thanksgiving weekend is not celebrated in all countries throughout the world, and even though it is observed at different times by our neighbours to the south, I find it at least interesting that in the shadow of this moment of great bounty, we are being called upon to be conscious of those who are in need.

Since the time of the apostles, the mission of the Church has always been to call her faithful to recognize that we are all in need of God's mercy.  Through constant and persistent prayer, we are all humbled when we recognize that we are all people in need of healing and forgiveness.  We are all still on a journey, like the Israelites in exile.  We are all like the widow of the gospel parable.  Each day, we must turn to God who alone is the source of our strength.

Trusting in God, we rise from this place, to continue the Mission of the Church.  We go out to the world - to our places of work, to our friends and relations, to those we will encounter this week - and we continue to proclaim the message.  Paul's letter to Timothy (4:2) encourages us to do so. "... be persistent," he says, "whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; to convince, rebuke and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching."

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