“Give to God what belongs to God.”
On this Mission Sunday we are reminded in the Gospel that Jesus’s focus was ‘what belongs to God’.
Often in life we can go from day to day, and from moment to moment thinking that we have all life under our control. We move from day to day without concern. Unfortunately, many life events that shock us point to a reality that is beyond our control.
In faith we have a life lens that speaks to our understanding that we come from God and go to God. This belief is at the centre of our humanity and at the centre of our faith. Belonging for Jesus is not a control; it is focused on belonging to a loving relationship. God does not want to control us but to love us.
However, there is in addendum to this belief that we cannot forget. In fact, it is an obligation. Belonging to God means belonging to each other. Today, Mission Sunday, reminds us of this duty to love our neighbour: to give to others what belongs to others, to give to the poor what belongs to the poor.
Everyone has a right to food, shelter and education and has many other basic rights. It is not charity when people are given food, education, shelter to live, or offered the basic right to express their religious belief; it is justice. These basic rights are the building blocks of the Kingdom of God.
Today we are reminded, to give to God what belongs to God is to share the fruits of the earth with all who live and who inhabit our common home.
Mission Sunday reminds us of Missio Dei (God’s Mission). Today we are reminded that we are all called to our baptismal mission. Mission Sunday reminds us that our Church, our community of faith, must go beyond its own boundaries and into the world to share the good news that Jesus brought to us in his life death and resurrection.
Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
Ronan Barry
