23. Mission – Rayan Lobo SJ Page 1

23 . Mission

This thesis traces the origin of the church to the mission of the son and the Holy Spirit.

This makes the church missionary by nature.

Acknowledging the plurality of religions and theologies and the church invites the

faithful to uphold the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and at the same time to discern God’s

salvific presence in other religions and cultures as well.

The thesis rightly points out the approach to mission has to be and integrated process,

incorporating inter religious dialogue, ecumenism, inculturation and establishing justice.

As the continuation of God’s mission manifested in Jesus Christ through the

spirit through the spirit, the church is missionary by its very nature( AG 1 -6) Church is missionary by nature:

The God of the bible is other centered and relational.

As God is love, he wants to share his love, he manifested his love through – Creation,

Prophets, kings, and finally god sent his Son.

Jesus experienced god as Abba.

Manifested his love through his words and deeds.

The church is to manifest God’s love that was expressed in Jesus Life ( Lk 4, 16 -21 =

God’s mission began at creation and expressed through his son, continued by the H,

carried out by the church.)

(Lk 4: 16 -21 –

To proclaim good new to the poor

freedom to the captives

sight to the blind

proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord = Sabbatical year = Jubilee year

Sabbath is a day of rest for animals and land.)

The mission of Jesus is the mission of the church.

AG 1 -6 (1 -9: original) gives a theological basis for the mission of the church.

It systematically develops the nature of the church is missionary.

AG – 1 church is divinely sent to the nations as universal sacrament of salvation. (Church

is called to be the salt and light).

(Rahner – Schillebeux, Dulles, Gutierez, Tilead)

AG – 2: Source of mission: is father’s love – fountain like love of God.

AG – 3: Mission of the son: God enters into human history through his son (incarnation) to

establish a relationship of peace and communion.

AG – 4: Mission of the spirit: Continues the mission of god/ Jesus in the church (Pentecost)

AG – 5: Mission of the Church: Initially through the ministry of the disciples and then through

the church, the mission of Christ is continued even today. The church is the sacrament of

salvation today.

AG – 6: What is mission?

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“Missions” term for particular undertakings by the heralds of the gospel – sent out by the

church going forth into the whole world, carrying out the task of preaching the gospel

and planting the church among the peoples or groups who do not yet believe in Christ.

The proper purpose of this missionary activity is evangelization.

2. In the context of the pluralism of religions and theology (LG 16, NA 1 -2) The source of resurrection is ONE and the same but perceived differently and

experienced differently in the diverse religious traditions.

India is a country with pluralism of religions.

Variety of beliefs”

Diverse doctrines

multiplicity of rites and cultures

In this context, catholic church in India faces the dual task of remaining faithful to its

beliefs and in the “uniqueness of Christ and in “discerning God’s salvific presence in the

plurality of religions and cultures”

LG 16: Speaks of salvation of non Christians. Those who have not yet received the

gospel are related to the people of God in various ways.( Jews, Muslims, Hindus,

Atheists, tribals)

NA – 1 : All human beings form one human community, having common origin and

common destiny. That is in God .

NA – 2 : CC church rejects nothing that is true and holy in other religions. It exhorts

spiritual + moral goods of these religions must be acknowledged, promoted and

preserved.

3. The CC has to remain faithful to its beliefs in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ(Rm – 5-8,

EA 10 -14) and continue his mission of making present God’s love and realize the divine

reign( EN 8,26,RM 13 -16) while discerning God’s alvific presence in the plurality of

religions and cultures( EA 15)

The uniqueness of Jesus Christ(Rm – 5-8, EA 10 -14) – (Christology)

Church while acknowledging the goodness in other religions ( LG 16,NA 1-2) affirms

the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in RM and EA.

Basing on Peter’s confession (Acts 4, 12) RM teaches there is no other name….( that is

there is salvation in no other name except Jesus Christ.)

Also it quotes Paul saying that - there is one God and One Mediator.( 1 Tim 2,5)

EA 10: Jesus is the highest gift that church can offer to the people of Asia. In this sense

mission is a privilege and duty of the church.

EA 11: Jesus is the God man who saves.

EA 12: Only in the person of Jesus does God’s word of salvation appear in all its

fullness.

EA 13 : Jesus Christ is the truth of humanity

EA 14: Uniqueness and universality of salvation in Christ.

Jesus Christ mains history’s center and goal.

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RM 5 – 8 affirms the uniqueness of Christ.

RM 5: Uniqueness and universality of salvation: No one comes to the Father except through me

+ Acts 4, 12. He used Paul, John and Timothy to support this view.

RM 6 : No separation between Jesus of history and word of god.

RM 7-8 : Faith in Christ is directed to man’s freedom. It doesn’t abrogate his freedom.

Mission of making present God’s love and realize the divine reign( EN

8,26,RM 13 -16) Jesus Christ through his life manifested God’s love ad his mission was to establish the

KOG.

During his earthly life and ministry the kingdom of god was his sole priority. Ex Mk

1,15: Jesus promises the kingdom. the manifesto of Jesus (Lk 4,16 -20) is the

actualization of the kingdom – parable, his deeds, words, table fellowship, the prayer.

“Our Father” show his primary concern was to manifest God’s love and to realize the

divine reign.

EN 8 : as an evangelizer, Christ primarily proclaimed the KOG.

EN 28 : ….to evangelize is first of all to bear witness, that in his son, God has loved the world.

RM 13 – 16: Speaks of KOG.

RM 13 : Christ makes the kingdom present. that is through his life and public ministry

inaugurated the kingdom.

RM 14 & 15: This kingdom for all:

brings forgiveness

healing

leads to salvation( Lk 18, 14 -30)

transforms human relations\

Kingdom demands us to love and serve one another.

RM 16 - KOG is fulfilled in the Risen Lord and proclaimed. After the resurrection, there is a

transition from kingdom of God to Jesus Christ himself because Christ (risen) becomes the

manifestation/expression of the kingdom of God.

Discerning God’s salvific presence in the plurality of religions and

cultures.(EA 15) EA 15 –

Affirms that one can discern God’s salvific presence in the plurality of religions and

cultures.

Speaks of the presence of spirit of God in creation and history.

HS sow seeds of truth among all people irrespective of their religion, culture, or

philosophy( means these are capable of helping people to work against - evil to promote

life.)

HS serves as prime agent of – Dialogue – cultures – and religions.

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Consequently the proclamation of the goodnews in a particular context

demands an integrated process of inter religious dialogue(EA 29,31),

Ecumenism(LG 15; EA 23 -28), Inculturation(EA 21 -22) ad work for justice,

both for humans and whole earth.(EA 32 -41). Any activity where the faith of the other (along with one’s own) is respected/ taken

seriously is called IRD.

Here Christian faith is not to measure the faith of the other but to serve through dialogue.

Dialogue demands a rootedness in one’s own faith and openness to the faith of the other.

IRD is based on Christian faith which involves 3 aspects:

a. Anthropological (NA – 1 : All humans have common origin and common destiny)

b. Theological ( God the creator, created us all and enlightens us(Gen 1, Jn 1,1 ; Sir 17, 8)

c. Ecclesiological ( as Jesus established community as a sacrament/sign of the kingdom, so

also church is to be a sign/ sacrament of this kingdom).

EA 29: Desire for dialogue is not simply a strategy for peaceful co-existence among

peoples but an essential part of Church’s mission.

EA 31 : Speaks of IRD: IRD is developed in a context of

Desire to respect.

Understanding

Openness to the believers

Willingness to listen to their differences.

For this it demands: a love of others

resulting in collaboration

harmony

mutual enrichment

Different types of dialogue:

1. Dialogue of life: Where people strive to live in an open and neighborly spirit sharing in joys

and sorrows,, human problems and occupations.

2. Dialogue of Action : for integral development and liberation of people.

3. Dialogue of theological exchange: Where specialists seek to deepen their theological

understanding.

4. Dialogue of religious exchange: Share their religious riches with regard to prayer and

contemplation etc.

EcumenismLG 15, EA 23 -28)

Ecumenism is a process directed towards achievement of unity among all Christian churches.

Done by - overcoming mutual suspicion and hatred.

Collaboration – taste of proclaiming God’s love.

Establishing the KOG.

Not oneness ( bringing into one God) but unity( a conciliar fellowship).

witness to Christ.

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LG 15 : Speaks of unity among / with other baptized Christians by recognizing :

Jesus I the norm of faith and life.

Believing in God the Father.

Receiving Baptism and other sacraments.

Celebrating Eucharist.

Devotion to Mary.

Church recognizes the power of the HS in them which is a move towards ecumenism.

EA 24: in the midst of many different peoples, cultures, religions, the life of the church as

communion – assumes greater importance.

Hence unity within the church has specific relevance in Asia where there are divisions,

conflicts et.

EA 25: Communion within the Church (at every level such as particular church, parish level, etc.

EA 26: Solidarity among churches (openness and collaboration with one another – Regional

National

International

Ea 27: catholic eastern churches (calling for more and more collaboration between east and west

– overcoming fears and misunderstandings)

EA 28: Speaks of sharing hopes and sufferings.

Inculturation: (EA 21 -22) Inculturation is a relationship between gospel and a particular culture in which gospel

enters into a culture and transforms it from within.

EA 21: speaks of inculturation. Church gives importance to inculturation because –

evangelization and inculturation are naturally and intimately related to each other.

EA 22: Areas of Inculturation:

Theology

Liturgy

Formation os evangelizers.

Obstacles:

Exclusivist and dogmatic claims by the church

Language of exclusivism and superficiality.

Western spirituality and theology.

Work for justice:

- Jesus Christ manifested god’s love and established the KOG here on earth, identified with

the poor, destitute and the oppressed; restored their dignity( LK 4, 16 -20 = manifesto of

Jesus)

- YHWH God who loves the poor, hears the cry of the oppressed. In the same way, the

church which is called to do the mission of Jesus – should identify itself with the – poor –

oppressed – work for justice, peace and equality and restore human dignity(uphold

human rights).

-

- EA 32: Church is called to reach out all people especially in loving service of the poor

and destitutes.

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- EA 33: speaks of the dignity of human person and encourages all to work towards the

promotion of human rights, justice peace etc.

(Moltman, lindbeck(Synod of Bishops – 1971) – EN, LE, SRS, Centiasimus Annus)

- EA 34: Preferential love for the poor and voiceless, because the Lord has identified

himself with them.

- EA 36 : work for health care(HIV,AIDs, etc)

- EA 37 : Education for all

- EA 38 : peacemaking among all.

- EA 40 : Condemns foreign debts, corruption, misappropriation of Public funds.

- EA 41 : Environmental( stewardship) – protecting the environment and caring for the

earth.

Conclusion:

Challenges of Indian Mission:

a. Challenge of being church – to serve and not to be served.

b. Challenge of prayer : whether Christian religious communities are centres of prayer and

contemplation.

c. Challenge of dialogue :

- With faith seekers – discipleship – witness.

- With the poor and the marginalized – solidarity.

- People of different cultures – inculturation

- People of different religious tradition – IRD.

d. Empowering the poor – Preferential option for the poor.