by Steve Dos Santos

Near the end of the message for World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis reminds us “of the perennial validity of the missio ad gentes.” We often hear that phrase and think of the men and women who cross the seas to serve in foreign lands. I think of the missio ad gentes not primarily as the “mission to the nations,” but as the “mission to the people,” wherever you find yourself. Pope Francis has often encouraged us get out of the sacristy and into the streets. This is where we encounter the people of our neighbors; churched and unchurched alike. It is our task to share with them our joy and love them with the love of Christ.

In some ways this is a more difficult mission. We can dream of setting our feet on the way of some great adventure, but we forget that there are roads to Emmaus in the neighborhoods where we live and minister. There are broken hearts and hurting people just down the block. Just because they don’t come to Church doesn’t mean we can’t be Jesus to them. This is the primordial mission, to simply bring Jesus to the people, by our presence, by our love, and by care.