THEME: NOURISH YOUR LIFE WITH GOD’S WORD AND PRAYER EVERYDAY
READINGS: Exodus 17:8–13, 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2, and Luke 18:1–8,
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time & Mission Sunday
Introduction
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today is Mission Sunday, a special day in the life of the Church when we reflect on our call to share the Gospel with the whole world. The Lord expects from us more than just believing in Him. This is because every baptized person is a missionary disciple—someone who is sent to live and proclaim the Gospel in word and action.
However, how can we be effective missionaries—at home, in our parishes, in our workplaces, or even across cultures—if we are not spiritually strong ourselves? Hence, today’s readings remind us that if we want to be people who witness to Christ, we must first nourish our lives daily with God’s Word and prayer. God’s Word and prayer nourish and strengthen our soul as much as food and drink do to our body.
1. The Necessity of Prayer
In the first reading, Exodus 17:8–13, the people of Israel are engaged in battle with Amalek. While Joshua leads the army in the valley, Moses is on the mountain, raising his hands in prayer. As long as his hands are raised, Israel is winning. But when he lowers them, the enemy prevails.
“Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17:11).
This shows that prayer is not optional in the Christian life—it is essential. Without it, we become spiritually weak. With it, we gain victory—not necessarily over armies, but over temptation, fear, and sin.
Our Lord Jesus underscores the necessity of prayer in today’s gospel reading. His parable is “about the necessity for [His disciples] to pray always and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Prayer is a relationship—a daily, ongoing conversation with God who loves us. We are invited not just to speak, but to listen, to trust, to pour out our hearts honestly.
Prayer is where the missionary heart is formed. Before we speak to others about God, we must first speak with God. So, as missionaries—whether priests, religious, laypeople, or families—we must be grounded in prayer, or we risk fighting the battles of life with no strength.
2. Persistence in Prayer
Another key lesson from the gospel reading is the need to persist in prayer. Thus, Jesus tells us about a persistent widow who refuses to give up, even when faced with an unjust judge. And then, He affirms that God hears “his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night” (Luke 18:7).
Just like the widow, we are called to keep praying, even when we see no immediate results. Persistence is not about pressuring God—it’s about staying connected to Him in faith, trusting that He is at work, even in silence.
Mission requires spiritual stamina—and that stamina comes from persistent prayer.
3. Pray Together with Others
In Exodus 17:12, we read that Moses grew tired, and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on each side, “so that his hands remained steady until sunset.”
This is a beautiful image of community prayer and support. None of us can stand alone forever. Even Moses, the great prophet, needed help to keep praying.
As Church, we are a praying people—and Mission Sunday reminds us that we are not isolated individuals. We are members of the Body of Christ, called to pray with and for one another. So,
- Pray with your families
- Join others in intercession for the missions
- Be someone who helps “hold up the hands” of others when they are weary.
4. Listen to God in Scriptures Everyday
In the second reading, 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Paul urges Timothy to stay rooted in the Scriptures:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
God speaks to us through the Word. Scripture is not just for priests and theologians—it is for everyone. The more we read it, the more we learn who God is, what He desires, and how we are to live.
To be missionary disciples, we must be people of the Word—daily listeners of God’s voice.
5. Always Act on God’s Word
It’s not enough to hear the Word—we must live it. St. Paul reminds Timothy that Scripture equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
We become credible missionaries not just by what we say, but by how we live:
- With compassion,
- With integrity,
- With courage,
- With love for the poor and forgotten.
People will believe the Gospel when they see it lived out in us.
6. Proclaim the Word—Convenient or Inconvenient
St. Paul continues in 2 Timothy 4:2, giving Timothy this powerful command:
“Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.”
This is the heart of Mission Sunday. We are not just called to live privately faithful lives—we are sent to proclaim Christ to the world, even when it is uncomfortable, inconvenient, or unpopular.
Whether you are a parent raising children in the faith, a student in a secular environment, or a professional in the workplace—you are a missionary. You are called to proclaim the Word by your words and your witness.
Conclusion
Beloved, today, on Mission Sunday, we are reminded that the Church is missionary by nature—and so are we. But to go out and proclaim the Gospel with joy and courage, we must first be rooted deeply in God. That’s why we are called to nourish our lives everyday with God’s Word and prayer.
Let us be like the persistent widow who never gave up, like Moses who lifted his hands in prayer, like Timothy who stood firm in the Word, and like Paul who boldly proclaimed Christ.
Finally, may we be nourished daily so that we may nourish others with the love and truth of Jesus.
Amen.
By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis
