What does it mean to be part of a "Chain of Mission"? In today’s reflection for Sunday, June 28th (the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time), Brother Edward Van Merrienboer, OP, explores a collection of Jesus' sayings in the Gospel of Matthew that reveal our unique role in God's plan.
Drawing a powerful parallel to the Easter Vigil, Br. Edward describes how the light of Christ spreads just like the flame of the Paschal candle—from one person to the next until the entire world is illuminated. From the Father to Jesus, from Jesus to the disciples, and from those disciples to us, we are all called to be part of this sacred priesthood in a state of missionary activity.
Discover how ordinary conversations with family and friends about the things of God can spread the flame of faith and fulfill the mission Jesus began 2,000 years ago.
**Key Takeaways:**
* **The Chain of Mission:** Understanding the flow of grace from the Father to the world.
* **Easter Vigil Imagery:** How the lighting of candles illustrates the spread of the Gospel.
* **A Holy People:** Exploring our identity as a "sacred priesthood" (1 Peter).
* **Missionary Discipleship:** Why Pope Leo calls the Church to be more missionary in the modern world.
* **Illuminating the World:** How the sacraments and the Word of God empower us to converse with the world.
**Timeline:**
0:00 Intro: Sunday, June 28th (13th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
0:23 A Collection of Sayings: Meditating on Matthew’s Gospel
0:50 Receiving the Disciples: The glimpse into Jesus' preparation
1:16 The Chain of Mission: From the Father to the Disciples
1:35 The Easter Vigil Analogy: One flame brightening the dark
2:06 Our Identity: A Holy People and Sacred Priesthood
2:40 Pope Leo's Call: Being a Missionary Church
3:00 Spreading the Flame: Ordinary conversations about the things of God
3:13 Conclusion: Illuminating the world through mission
**About A Word of Hope:**
Daily Gospel reflections hosted by the Dominican Friars, offering spiritual insights to help you live out your faith with purpose and hope.
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