Hello everyone, it’s Fr. Deji here. As we move deeper into this final full week of Lent, the liturgy begins to take on a heavier, more urgent tone. We are standing on the threshold of Holy Week, and today’s readings from the USCCB, Jeremiah 20:10-13 and John 10:31-42, present us with a very specific, very human reality: the cost of being a witness for God.
In my work with The Pontifical Mission Societies, I often see the faces of modern-day Jeremiahs. I see the young men in seminaries across Africa, Asia, and Oceania who are preparing to step into a world that might not always welcome them with open arms. When we talk about having a "global missionary heart," we aren't just talking about a vague feeling of kindness. We are talking about the grit, the trust, and the profound theological conviction that allows a person to say "Yes" to God when everyone else is whispering "No."
The "Whispering" of the World: Jeremiah’s Reality
Today’s first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah hits close to home for anyone involved in mission work. Jeremiah says, "I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!’" Even his friends were waiting for him to stumble.
Imagine for a moment being a young seminarian in a region where Christianity is a minority faith, or where political instability makes any religious leadership a target. This isn't ancient history; this is the daily reality for many of the students supported by the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
When a young man decides to enter a missionary seminary, he often leaves behind the security of his family and the approval of his peers. Like Jeremiah, he might hear the "whisperings." People might wonder why he isn't staying home to support his family financially or why he is choosing a path that leads to sacrifice. Yet, Jeremiah’s response is what we try to cultivate in our missionary training: "But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph."
Integrating today’s readings means recognizing that the mission of the Church depends on men and women who believe that God is their "mighty champion." Our job, as a global Church, is to be the hands and feet that provide the support they need so they don't have to face that "terror" alone.
Stones and Works: The Gospel Challenge
In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus facing a similar, though much more literal, threat. The crowds pick up stones to stone Him. Jesus’ response is fascinating. He doesn't just argue theology; He points to His works. "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?"
This is the heart of the missionary spirit. In many places around the world, the Church isn't first known for its preaching; it is known for its works. It is known for the hospitals, the schools, the orphanages, and the presence of a priest in a village that everyone else has forgotten.
When we support the formation of local clergy through the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, we are ensuring that these "good works" continue. These priests are the ones who will celebrate the Sacraments, but they are also the ones who will stand between warring factions, who will advocate for the poor, and who will be the face of Christ’s mercy.
The people in the Gospel wanted to stone Jesus because they couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that God was working through a man. Today, the world often tries to "stone" the Church with indifference or hostility because it doesn't want to accept the radical call of the Gospel. Integrating this reading means asking ourselves: Are we willing to stand by those who are doing the good works of the Father, even when the stones start to fly?
The Society of St. Peter the Apostle: Building the Future
I want to talk a little bit about why this matters on a practical level. The Society of St. Peter the Apostle is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, and its specific focus is the formation of local clergy and religious in mission territories.
Why is "local" clergy so important? Because, as we see in the Gospel, the most effective witness is one that speaks the language, understands the culture, and lives among the people. When a young man from a mission territory is ordained, he isn't an "outsider" bringing a foreign religion. He is a son of that soil, bringing the eternal Truth of Jesus Christ to his own people.
However, many mission dioceses simply do not have the funds to build seminaries, buy books, or even provide daily meals for their seminarians. This is where our global missionary heart comes in. By supporting these seminarians, we are acting as the "mighty champion" that Jeremiah spoke of. We are making sure that the whispers of the world are drowned out by the support of the global Catholic family.
How to Integrate These Readings into Your Daily Life
You might be sitting in your home in New York, London, or Manila, wondering how Jeremiah and a seminarian in South Sudan relate to your Friday in Lent. Here is how you can integrate a global missionary heart into your day:
- Pray with a Map: When you read Jeremiah’s words about "terror on every side," don't just think about his historical context. Think about the Church in places like the Middle East or parts of Africa where being a Christian is a daily risk. Pray for the priests and seminarians there.
- Focus on the "Works": Like Jesus, let your faith be known by your works. Lent is a season of almsgiving. Consider how your sacrifice can support the "good works" of the mission Church. Even a small gift to the Society of St. Peter the Apostle goes directly toward the education of a future priest who will serve thousands.
- Trust the "Mighty Champion": We all face our own "whisperings": doubts, anxieties, or people who don't understand our faith. Use Jeremiah’s prayer today: "Lord, I have entrusted my cause to you." Let that be your mantra.
A Personal Reflection
I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of these seminarians. I remember one young man who told me that his village had been waiting for a priest for twenty years. They only saw a priest twice a year for the Sacraments. He decided to enter the seminary because he couldn't stand the thought of the next generation growing up without the Eucharist.
When he told me about the challenges: the lack of resources, the long distance from his family: he didn't sound discouraged. He sounded like Jeremiah. He knew the Lord was with him.
Our mission at the Pontifical Mission Societies is to make sure that his "Yes" is enough. We provide the material support so that his spiritual calling can flourish. Today, as you reflect on the USCCB readings, I invite you to expand your heart. Don't just look at the cross in your own life; look at the cross being carried by our brothers and sisters in the missions.
We are one Body. When Jeremiah suffers, we suffer. When Jesus is threatened with stones, we stand with Him. And when a new priest is ordained in a mission land, we all rejoice.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue to pray for one another as we approach the mystery of Holy Week.
– Fr. Deji