P A T H S O F M I S S I O N

Fr. Thomas D’Sa

There was a time when missionary endeavours were a corollary to colonization. Highways were prepared for missionaries by the colonizers. But today in Asian context missionaries need to discover their own pathways of mission. Paths are created by the ‘foot walkers’. ‘Highways’ are constructed by powerful people with machines, valuable materials, etc. When I use the word ‘paths’, I also refer to the breakthrough that we need to make in our missionary initiatives. Breakthroughs are made in simple and humble ways by personal initiatives at the grass root level. Only those who wish to walk can use paths, and not those who want to drive fast and reach their destination as soon as possible. During this walk on the path, one may have to go slow, meet people on the way. There may be insecurity and harm arising from snakes, wild animals, and dust on the path. In other words, it will not be a triumphant Church marching with its army, but a pilgrim Church on her way dialoguing along with others while sharing their joys and sorrows, leading them to the Father with the help of the treasures that she has received from Christ and from other local sources under the guidance of the Spirit who inspires all irrespective of race, culture or religion. I will continue to use the word mission, not in the sense of mission ad gentes, but in the sense of mission inter gentes, which will be clarified later. Though some biased leaders in Asia may have the feeling that Christian mission is impossible but we are of the conviction that if the mission is of God, missio Dei, it cannot be impossible, although the paths may be difficult and the approach may be different, when we understand mission in the right sense of the word in today’s pluralistic context. The Church does not have a mission of her own. The real mission is that of the Father, which the mission of Jesus is also. Can we honestly say today that the mission we are engaged in is of the Church, the mission of the Father and of Jesus, missio Dei? “If God is with us, who is against us?” “If the Lord does not build the house, the builders labour in vain”.

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