A MISSION TURNED TOWARDS GOD

Abstract

THE CALLING TO MISSION: BEGINNING OF A RELATIONSHIP God turns to us God's face is turned towards us We are invited to turn to God. The Christian life is thus fundamentally a relationship, an act, a movement, a process of continual conversion. This is not easy for us, however, since we are perhaps thinking of the effort involved. Even more, probably above all, we do not always know where God is. We find ourselves more often seeking God than finding God. Consequently it is useful to remember that our efforts, our initiatives and our merits do not come first and do not determine what happens. It is not we who know where God is; more simply, it is God who turns. God's face is turned towards God's people. Certainly we must recognize this as the first move, a movement of attention, of being beside us, of love, affirming that we are not alone. We are named, recognized and invited to enter into a relationship. God speaks In the Old Testament the dialogue is very down-to-earth, sometimes a lively discussion, as when Moses balks at the mission which is entrusted to him. The Scriptures frequently show God speaking with the chosen people. Often enough in fact, it is only later on that the listeners realise that God has spoken to them, that they have received a word from God. In the New Testament, following the logic of the Incarnation, the word is transmitted through Jesus. In a strong affirmation that Jesus is the Christ, he is not just the messenger but stands as the Word in the flesh, calling us, coming from God. There are many dialogues with the disciples and with people encountered along the way. The words of Jesus are active and transforming; they heal, forgive, reconcile, and set us free; they get us moving again. Is God still speaking to us? Perhaps this seems like a simplistic idea, because we find it so difficult to discern the Word of God in contemporary life. Could it be that the Word is rare today, as in the time when Samuel was young? Could it be simply that the Incarnation is still going on, and that this word comes to us through meditations, situations, events or persons, angel messengers passing it on? Certainly the contexts in which we live are sometimes very opaque, and we feel helpless to understand what mission we are called to, what exactly are the tasks which we must fulfil. How do we face up to so much injustice, such globalization of economic problems, the burgeoning complexity of it all? And to the often perverse effects of work we have done with good intentions, and our frequent disillusionments with regard to our dreams of progress, development, peace, and establishing more just economic systems? Sometimes it seems as though the prophets in the Bible had a difficult job, a heavy burden to carry, but at least they knew what they had to do. Their mission was spelled out when they were called! We, in contrast, do not hear any orders given to guide us. We often feel overwhelmed by the scope and the complexity of our situations. This is probably why we bring so little innovation to our practical mission and diaconal work, but rather repeat the same old planning and practices, even though we know very well that they don't fit any more. What is God saying to us today? How shall we discern the Word of God? How shall we respond? From word to mission: discernment Discernment is a process which has as much to do with self-understanding and being present to the world as with the community or institution in which the action is recognized, supported and passed on. Even more, and necessarily in view of its importance, it is one of the gifts of the Spirit. Discernment focuses as much on the person or persons who are to respond as on the type of task which is to be done. It is rooted in interpretation, in the understanding of Biblical texts in which the Word continues to be lived out and passed on from generation to generation and for every time and place. …