Are You Really Participating in Jesus’ Mission?

Today we hear Jesus’ mission in the Gospel and it calls to mind this important question: Are you doing these things in your own life? 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Yes, you heard right. We the baptized have been given the Spirit of the Lord and we have been sent to do all of these things! We should feel the fire of the Spirit today to support Jesus’ mission in concrete ways!

Now I would consider myself a “doer” (probably to a fault) and I try to participate in Jesus’ mission in all the ways I feel called to. I’m inspired by those who do the same. My husband says I am 100% Martha, and sometimes I wish I was a little more Mary. But I just don’t think it’s my make-up. Purpose powers me – especially the mission I hear today.

When I read this passage and compare it to my everyday experience with average believers, I see some people doing these things, but many other people not doing these things. I see many church-goers who go to church on Sunday and then are rather lazy in other areas of their life. I hear more about their Netflix watching, book reading, vacation planning, family life, workouts, and other things they do in their spare time than about how they are serving the Lord and His people. 

Even just yesterday I participated in a long volunteer strategy meeting with an order I belong to and three of the same people raised their hands to do the actual work we discerned that we would do. One of those people was myself. I already have a full plate, but people seem to avoid extra work because they claim to not have the time – even retirees which were most of those people around the table!

Time is often the issue stated for not volunteering to do more. But I challenge you to discern where your time is actually being spent because I have found that most people say that, but really just want the easy road…the path of least resistance…the path of less work…the path of more fun and enjoyment…the path that requires less of them and gives them more comfort. They want to share their input on what should be done but not actually do it. That’s why we see plenty of opinions everywhere but very little action. Is that really the mission we’re called to?  Is any of this really bringing us deep joy, purpose, and fulfillment? I really challenge you to think about that. 

I can honestly say my time spent watching television brings nothing of that, but those 3-4 hours volunteering in a week for ministries aligned to Jesus’ mission certainly do. Sure, we need rest and leisure, especially on the Sabbath, but that shouldn’t take up all of our free time.

While I do believe that Jesus desires our joy, I believe He desires our joy from living out this exact mission – the joy that comes from serving others in our midst, proclaiming good news to the poor, setting captives and the oppressed free, and healing others’ blindness. This is the work of Kingdom-building.

Guess what that requires? Working at it. Rolling up your sleeves. Raising your hand to help build the kingdom. You’ve been sent by Christ – not to lay on the couch watching Netflix/sports/YouTube or reading your favorite book – but to build up the Kingdom of God. 

Are you really participating in Jesus’ mission?