Wandering Christian

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Romans 10:8-13 - Epistle reading for the First Sunday of Lent (year C)
The Bible (New International Version)

Last Sunday, many churches throughout our Church have been celebrating the joy of World Missions. The concept of mission is intimately tied to the proclamation of the Gospel. This means that, if someone wants to be a faithful follower of the teachings let by our Lord Jesus Christ, he/she must have a missionary heart.

Of course, the concept of mission has evolved, from simply spreading the word (the most basic "believe in Jesus" conversion approach) to spreading the Word, the Logos incarnate... Today, many of us understand that a missionary heart must be committed to living Christ in actions, thoughts and speeches. Mission is an integral part of the Church - and a Church that does not live mission is condemned to a sad (spiritual) death. A missionary heart wants to help those who are in need, no matter who they are, and "everyday missionaries" are, therefore, those who commit themselves to reaching their schoolmates, friends, relatives and acquaintances.

Today is also the first Sunday of (or in) Lent. This is a season of reflection and penitence. It is also a season of missionary efforts. Mission per se is an act of self-giving. It is a moment in which every Christian has the opportunity of sharing hopes, fears, disillusions and conquers with fellow brothers and sisters who come from different cultures, realities and backgrounds. When we gather at the table with our family in Christ - those who agree and those who disagree with us - we do mission. And we do mission because in doing so, we preach the Gospel (the Word which we live and express through our way of being) to every creature.

Of course, there (still) are the transcultural missionaries, and I am very blessed to have some friends among them. A tiny peace of my heart lives in Panama, where the rarísimo Mickey and the lovely Mona have been tasting Latino rhythms at St. Cristopher's. Another part of me reminds me of the Caminante Lee and her activities in El Salvador. And if I close my eyes, I can maybe imagine Fr. Nicholas in London, and the warm memories of the time he was at Christ the King in Cidade de Deus... Or the pilgrims from Atlanta, who spent a wonderful time at the Diocese of Rio... And my vision of mission is a rendering the kingdom on Earth. I dream of going to St. Cristopher's rehearsals with the lovely Mona and el loco Mickey and take all those people to El Salvador, or to St. Mary's in Vermont, with Lee. And maybe we would gather together with the folks of Christ the King in Rio, the Atlantians, Fr. Nicholas and Old St. Pancras' in London...

And I am certain that this kingdom I foresee is deep inside our hearts. This is the Kingdom St. Paul refers to, in his Epistle to the Romans. The kingdom composed of all those who believe in Christ, and, more than that... all those who set their hopes in Christ, and trust in Christ. But Christ does not stop there... He will not allow us to be put into shame. I would say an "Alleluia" for that, but since we are in Lent, this liturgical Anglo-Catholic that lies in me will rejoice with a simple "hurrah" or "yay". Yes, "yay" for the fact that Christ does not walk away. And the message St. Paul brings is that this is the Christ that, regardless of what we are (Jews of Gentiles), sees us as equal beings. He loves us, and blesses us, for our faith in Him and for our trust we deposit in Him.

And since I see mission as gathering together to worship this God that does not walk away, I find it contradictory when someone refuses not to celebrate the Eucharistic mystery, which is so important to our life as a Christian community, and walks away. When those who act this way do so, they act as un-missionaries, and even as un-Christians.

All I know is that the people in Cidade de Deus will probably see life from a very different point of view than the people in Panama. In cold Vermont, warm El Salvador and its people are a very different reality. Foggy London and hot Atlanta may not match either... Maybe it is because every human being is an island. God, however, is the best bridge-builder I have ever known. In Christ, with Christ, and through Christ, the Church is held together. And Christ is revealed, when we break the bread, when we share experiences, when se see each other as decent people, when we hold hands and when we exchange the peace. This is mission.

Our response to the un-mission, however, must not be un-missionary. They may leave. They may walk apart. We do not. We will keep gathering around the table, even if they do not want to come. We will offer the peace, even if they refuse to receive it from us. We will help their children, even if they take them away from us. We will do mission, even if un-mission rules the world.

And we will keep doing that, because our God does not walk away, and does not let us be ashamed. Theirs may. Ours never will.

Part of a study held at All Saints' Episcopal Church, a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, in 02/25/2007.

Further reading:
Romans 10

For the smiles in our faces, we give You thanks.
For the hope in our hearts, we give You thanks.
For the food, for the shelter, for the ones we love, we give You thanks.
For the life that flows through our veins, we give You thanks.
For the Church that still survives despite this bloody world, we give You thanks.
And we pray for unity, for mutual understanding and for a renewal in our hearts. That we may be one, despite our diferences, despite our leadership and despite the rhumb that our Church has been taking.
In the name of God, the mother who gives birth to us and holds us in eternal love.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our brother and companion through life, our friend on whom we can count.
And in the name of the Holy Spirit, who re-invents life through unpredictable ways.
Amen.