Everyone is a Missionary

By virtue of one’s baptism, we all share in the missionary work of the Church, thus we are called to become a missionary in our own way.
Each one through his or her own vocation whether in married life, priesthood and religious life, or in single-blessedness can do the Church’s missionary works. It doesn’t mean that one has to go to far-flung places to do the works of the Church in telling about God’s love.

One can perform one’s missionary task through one’s witnessing—as a loving wife, as a faithful husband, as a supportive brother and sister or as a friend who listens when one is in need and willing to extend a helping hand to those who need most.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus became a patroness of the missions though she did go out on a mission herself. Her words of support to the missionaries when she was still in the cloister helped them perform their tasks according to God’s plan.

As we celebrate the World Mission Sunday today, let us all ponder on our share in the mission of the Church. The lay faithful have become an inspiration in the works of the mission.
We, Filipinos don’t have to look far. We have two of our very own saints to be proud of and who are worth emulating: San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and the recently canonized, San Pedro Calungsod.
The question still rings loud: Can you be a missionary?