Successful Mission

October 7, Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
Daily Readings: Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29; Luke 10:17-24

It is always interesting to listen to the stories of those who go to other nations or cultures as missionaries. They share their failures and successes in their missionary endeavors.

The readings of the last two days talk about the failures and successes of missionary work. Yesterday, Jesus cursed the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their hardness of heart. The missionary work seems to be fruitless.

In contrast to the Gospel of yesterday, the Gospel reading of today proclaims the story of the success of missionary work.  The disciples who were sent two by two returned to Jesus and shared the success stories of their mission.  With joy, the disciples said: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” As a Master, Jesus partakes in the happiness of the disciples, but he reminds them gently that they have to credit that success not to themselves but to God. It must be made clear that it is not their power that chases the demons away but the power of God that works in them. In other words, we are God’s instruments. Away from God, we could do nothing. The question, then, is “What guarantees the success of a mission?” A childlike disposition, that is trusting God and humility to depend on him, guarantees the success of the mission. Jesus says, “For although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

Attributing our success in our mission to God allows us to glorify God. Jesus has shown us an example. Listening to the happy stories of the disciples, Jesus praises God the Father and says, “I give you praise, Father…for you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.”

Above all, Jesus tells us that mission cannot be done away from God. The success of a mission is determined by how deep our communion with God is.