Welcome to our Lenten journey. As we navigate this Friday, March 6, 2026, the liturgical calendar brings us to the Friday of the Second Week of Lent. At The Pontifical Mission Societies, we often reflect on how the rhythm of the Church’s daily prayer: the Liturgy of the Word: is not just a private spiritual exercise but a drumbeat that calls us toward the peripheries of the world.
Integrating the daily Catholic readings into your life is a powerful way to fuel your passion for global evangelization. When we read the scriptures provided by the USCCB, we are not just reading ancient history; we are reading the "missionary manual" of the Church. Today, I want to share a few reflections on how the readings for this Friday can help us see the world through the lens of mission, particularly through the vital work of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
The Missionary Archetype: Sent into the Unknown
In today’s first reading from Genesis (Gen 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a), we encounter the story of Joseph. Joseph was the beloved son, sent by his father to check on his brothers who were tending the flocks in Shechem. This "sending" is the fundamental movement of mission. The word "mission" itself comes from the Latin missio, meaning "a sending."
Joseph’s journey was not an easy one. He was rejected by those closest to him, sold into slavery, and taken to a foreign land. Yet, in the grand design of God's providence, Joseph’s presence in Egypt became the means of salvation for his entire family and many nations during the famine.
For those of us with a heart for global evangelization, Joseph reminds us that being "sent" often involves crossing boundaries and facing rejection. Our missionary priests, sisters, and lay leaders often leave the comfort of their homes to go where the Gospel has not yet taken root. Like Joseph, they may face linguistic barriers, cultural isolation, or even open hostility. By reflecting on Joseph’s journey in our daily reading, we can offer our day’s work and prayers for those currently serving in "foreign lands," asking God to use their hardships to bring about a "great harvest" of faith.
The Vineyard and the Call for Local Fruit
Turning to the Gospel (Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46), Jesus tells the Parable of the Tenants. The landowner plants a vineyard, puts a hedge around it, digs a wine press, and builds a tower. He then leases it to tenants and goes on a journey. When the time comes to collect the produce, the tenants reject, beat, and kill the servants: and eventually the son.
Jesus concludes with a powerful and challenging statement: "Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
This passage is a direct call to recognize that the Church is a living, fruit-bearing organism. In the context of global missions, we must ask ourselves: how do we ensure the vineyard of the Church continues to produce fruit in every corner of the globe? The answer lies in the cultivation of local leadership.
For the Church to truly take root in a mission territory, it cannot remain a "foreign" entity forever. It must produce its own "fruit" in the form of indigenous clergy and religious. This is the specific charism of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle. We believe that the most effective missionaries in any given culture are often those who were born and raised within it. They know the language, the customs, and the heart of the people.
Supporting the Future: The Society of St. Peter the Apostle
When you engage with the daily readings and feel that stirring of missionary zeal, it is important to have a concrete channel for that passion. One of the most effective ways to support global evangelization is by ensuring that young men in mission lands who feel called to the priesthood have the means to complete their education.
The Society of St. Peter the Apostle was founded in 1889 by a mother and daughter, Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, in Caen, France. They received a letter from a bishop in Japan who explained that he had many young men wanting to become priests but lacked the funds to build a seminary and support their training. The Bigards responded by dedicating their lives to raising funds for the training of local clergy in mission lands.
Today, this society is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies. It supports over 700 seminaries and approximately 28,000 seminarians in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. By supporting this work, you are directly answering the Gospel call to ensure the vineyard is managed by those who will "produce its fruit."
You can learn more about this specific mission and how it transforms communities by visiting our website:
https://pontificalmissions.org/who-we-are/the-society-of-st.-peter-the-apostle
Practical Steps: Integrating Scripture and Mission
How can you make this integration a daily habit? Here are a few practical ways to bridge the gap between your morning coffee with the USCCB website and your commitment to the global Church:
- Identify the "Sent" One: In every daily reading, look for the person who is being sent or the person who is searching for God. Connect that figure to a specific part of the world. If the reading mentions the desert, pray for missions in Northern Africa. If it mentions the sea, pray for the island missions of Oceania.
- Intercede for Seminarians: When you read about the "laborers in the vineyard," take a moment to pray specifically for the 28,000 seminarians supported by the Society of St. Peter the Apostle. These young men are the future of the Church. They are studying in places where the Church is young, vibrant, and often growing amidst poverty or persecution.
- Reflect on Stewardship: The Parable of the Tenants reminds us that we are stewards, not owners, of the gifts God has given us. Ask yourself: "How can I use my resources: time, prayer, or financial support: to help the 'landowner' collect his fruit in the missions?"
- Share the Word: Evangelization begins with the Word. If a particular verse from the daily readings strikes you, share it on your social media or with a friend. Mention how it reminds you of our universal call to be missionaries.
The Role of Clergy in Global Evangelization
The formation of local clergy is not just about filling roles in a parish; it is about the long-term sustainability of the faith. A local priest is a bridge. He is a son of the community who has been formed in the heart of the Church. When a community sees one of its own standing at the altar, the Gospel ceases to be something "imported" and becomes something "indigenous."
In many mission territories, a single priest might be responsible for dozens of outstations, traveling miles by foot, bike, or boat to bring the Sacraments to the faithful. By integrating your daily readings with a focus on these laborers, you begin to see the global Church not as a series of disconnected statistics, but as a family of faith striving to produce fruit in the vineyard of the Lord.
A Lenten Commitment to the Missions
As we continue through Lent, we are reminded of the sacrifice of the Son in the vineyard. Jesus gave everything so that the Kingdom of God could be accessible to all. Our mission is to ensure that His sacrifice is known to the ends of the earth.
Daily scripture reading is the fuel. Global evangelization is the fire. By bringing them together, your spiritual life becomes more than just personal growth: it becomes a missionary act. You join the ranks of Stephanie and Jeanne Bigard, and the countless others who realized that our local faith is only fully realized when it is shared globally.
Let us pray today for all those in formation, that they may be like the "stone that the builders rejected" which became the cornerstone: strong, faithful, and ready to lead the people of God.
May the peace of Christ be with you as you journey through the Word today.
– Fr. Deji