MISSION DAYS 2021
May 13, 2021
A PANDEMIC MISSION DAYS?...
We have the basic "Guidebook" for Mission Days that is based on the Scripture readings from the Feast of the Ascension and up to Pentecost.
The Feast of the Ascension is the starting day. We, like the Disciples of the Lord stand there staring into the heavens where our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ just ascended into heaven after having come into our world, teaching us, healing us, dying for us, redeeming us and then He rose from the dead! It was an intense and amazing journey! We learned so much and we realized that Jesus our God is our everything. He is our one and only Saviour! Only by Him will any of us enter into life everlasting! He established His Church as the single vehicle by which to travel through this life and to reach life everlasting! He showed us the way and what must be done. He gives us the script - the Gospels and the teachings of His Church. He trains us to be Evangelizers, but He also told us not to worry so much about what needs to be said, because the Holy Spirit will inspire us at every moment. But the real thing is to get out there and start saying something! Start doing something! For the Love of God, just start sharing your Faith with everyone you can.
So, let us hear the command of the Lord before He ascended, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always!" (Matthew 28:19-20) and let us also hear the message that the Angels gave to those skyward-staring Disciples after Jesus ascended, "why do you stand looking into heaven? Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come [again] in the same way" (Acts 1:9). In the meantime, we have a joyful task entrusted to us by the Lord. Let's get busy!
Where to begin? The Church has provided us with a little 10-day seminar, of sorts, to help us get started and get us out the door. It is a kind of onsite training seminar - so we don't wait until we complete it... we start putting it into practice from day one! We spend time in payer and reflection. We prepare ourselves by participating in Eucharistic celebration at the Divine Liturgy - where we will not only hear the living Word of God proclaimed in the Epistle and the Gospel readings, but we will become one with our Lord through a sincere and worthy reception of Holy Communion.
You can refresh your memory about Mission Days by downloading and following the Guidebook [HERE] or in Ukrainian [TYT]. But also be creative. What would YOUR ten basic themes be in these times?... in your situation? ... among the people that you want to reach out to in particular?
Here's an example of themes that are related both to the pandemic which we are all living through and to the Gospel Readings of each day....
Introduction: Thursday - Feast of the Ascension of our Lord - Gospel of Luke 24:36-53 "I am with you always! Why are you standing there, what are you waiting for?"
1. First Day: Friday - Gospel of John 14:1-11 "What is your source of truth? What is the message that guides your life?
2. Second Day: Saturday - Gospel of John 14:10-21 "Why do you live in fear? The Lord your God is with you always and will give you everything you need"
3. Third Day: Sunday of the Holy Fathers - Gospel of John 17:1-11 "The Lord is watching over us! He desires that we make a conscious, daily effort to stay together with Him and with our brothers and sisters in Christ!"
4. Fourth Day: Monday - Gospel of John 14:27 - 15:7 "The Lord gives us peace from God and He gives us a strength and power that no power - spiritual or human - will have anything over us. If we stay "attached" to the Lord, then we will bear fruit and do things for the Lord and His people that would otherwise be impossible!"
5. Fifth Day: Tuesday - Gospel of John 16:2-13 "When you feel yourself being alienated from society, or from some group or even from your church, ask yourself who is doing that and why? It is not the Lord. But trust in the Lord and receive inspiration and determination from the Holy Spirit!"
6. Sixth Day: Wednesday - Gospel of John 16:15-23 "When things seem dark and hopeless, do not give up! Trust in the Lord and allow Him to lead you onto right paths and to restore (or give you) the joy that He wants us all to have!"
7. Seventh Day: Thursday - Gospel of John 16:23-33 "You will be scared sometimes and maybe even run and hide because of your fear and confusion! Well, when you find your courage, come back.... stronger than ever, never to be fooled or terrified again!"
8. Eighth Day: Friday - Gospel of John 17:18-24 "The Lord wants to share everything with us! We need to remain faithful and follow His Gospel and live life fully in His Church."
9. Ninth Day: Saturday - Gospel of John 21:15-25 "Do you really love the Lord? Really? Then live His teachings and serve others. Don't worry about what others are doing or not doing. Ask yourself what it is that the Lord speaks in your heart?"
10. Tenth Day: Pentecost - Gospel of John 7:37-52; 8:12 "Burst out into the world and share the Good News and never turn back! Be the light of faith that the world seeks so desperately, but will only receive through you!"
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