Mission to Love - THOUGHTS FROM A DISCIPLE (Apr. 23, 2017)

Mission to Love

By Francis Jerome Santos

​Mission, a very simple word with a deep meaning. All of us needs to have this to make us fully human. We are created in this world not only for ourselves but also for others. It feels great if we do something good for others. It will make us be inspired and happy.

Just recently, I was invited by one of my priest friends to join him in his mission in one school. He will give confessions and after that there will be mass. It was nice to see people having confessions and attending mass. The participants were indigent people, some of them are just living in the streets. It’s good that amidst of the difficult situation that they experience they were reminded not to lose hope because there’s a God who loves and takes care of them.

After the mass there was a gift giving. I did not expect that my priest friend volunteered me to help which I gladly accepted. I was assigned in giving the gifts to the male participants. At first it was very smooth, I was happy seeing people receiving the gifts but on the latter part, the gifts that were inside the box were not enough anymore so when I told some people that the gifts were not complete and I will just have to ask if there were still stocks inside the house of the nuns, there was a slight tension especially with the complaint of one man in the group. Thankfully some of the novices helped me and at the end all of them were given gifts.

The experience helped me to be reminded of one important lesson, that doing mission is not always easy, there will be times that your efforts will not be appreciated but for me what is more important is what is in your heart. Yes I was sad because I felt unappreciated but I understood that I just assisted during that time, how much more the people who organized the event. At that time I chose to look at the brighter side, there were more people who were happy of what we did and also I was happy to help. Doing mission gives me so much happiness and I am happy seeing people happy as well, so for me I was still successful. How about you? Do you do mission because of praise or admiration or you do it because of love?
​
Now, we are already celebrating the triumph of Jesus Christ from the cross, He is now risen! He already fulfilled the mission that was entrusted to him by the Father. Now, we have a chance to continue the mission of Christ here on earth. Mission is not about organizing a big event it also can be done by treating others well, by praying for them, by giving them a sincere smile among many others. Each day is a mission, a chance for us to love others and to serve. Remember that the ultimate reason for mission is love and that what’s the sacrifice Christ did for us, he showed as to love unconditionally without expecting in return. Let’s continue our lives here on earth with a mission to love others and make this world a better place. Enjoy life!

---

Francis Jerome G. Santos- a disciple of Verbum Dei Community in Luzon. 
​
He met the community last 2009. He graduated BS Psychology and works as an HR practitioner. 
He enjoys writing inspirational write-ups and hopes to be able to inspire others to live in the right path and be closer to God.

You can contact Francis at siseng18@yahoo.com

---

Want to share your own reflections of faith?
Feel free to send it to us at verbumdeiphilippines@gmail.com. ​​