Mission Immersion as a way of “Being” (Part 3 and 4)

Part 3: To be the Light to the Nations

In the Gospel of Luke (2:30-32), the word of the Lord to Abraham and the mission of Israel in the OT had been re-echoed and that is “to be the light to the nations.” These words that had been re-echoed in the NT had been also the opportunity of the pious Jew, Simeon, waiting in the Temple for so long for the coming of the Messiah. Simeon was literally referring to the child Jesus as the light to the nations which means that Jesus was born into human flesh to save the people not just the Jews but even the non-Jews of the world. In effect, those who believe in Jesus may become the light as well as Israel was called. Jesus’ disciples, the gathered community of believers, are now entrusted to be that light in the world.

Moreover, Luke presented an account that portrayed various people who recognized, saw and embraced the Messiah. However, many of them never became his followers. Although, there were also people that later in their lives particularly at the death and resurrection of Jesus became fearless in believing Jesus as the Messiah.

This is particularly represented by Mary. In fact the Gospel mentioned three times that Mary “kept all these things in her heart.” This meant that Mary also had encountered some wonders upon the events of her life and in Jesus things that she couldn’t understand. After that, Mary only appeared at the foot of the cross of Jesus and at the Pentecost. Truly, Mary might had doubts as well in her heart yet her faith grew gradually as God revealed himself to her. Mary certainly represented the Church - whose faith is on the journey towards maturity.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph and Mary were accounted passively by the evangelist. The mention of the presence of the Magi, which means “wise men,” with three gifts represented the universal presence of God. The Magi who were not Jews were the image of all the nations. God is not exclusive for Israel. God’s offer of salvation is for all people, in fact in all creation.

Through the person of Jesus who was sent by the Father was to bring everyone into the realization of God’s universal plan of salvation. The goal of his mission is to inaugurate the Kingdom of God on earth.

Hence, in Luke’s Gospel, the healing miracles of making the blind see or the recovery of the sight was central to the mission of the Jews. Israel was blinded and was not able to see God’s presence among them. He person of Jesus will allow them to see God. Yet, it is evident in the NT that many were still blind for they choose to be blind and refused to see Jesus as the Messiah. The Israelites have impose upon themselves that the Messiah who is to come is the saviour with powerful army who will trample down the Roman Empire at that time. The Jews were waiting for a King that will be born in the palace with gold and silvers and servants. They were waiting for a Messiah that holds a sword on his hand to kill the enemies. Nevertheless, all these expectation were never to be found in Jesus of Nazareth.

Moreover, Jesus himself pointed out to the Jews how they refused and rejected God’s message for them brought by the prophets in the OT. Elijah was instead sent by God not to the widows in Israel but to the widow in Seraphat, a gentile. Elisha the prophet also healed the gentile army general Naaman. This is primarily because of the refusal of the Israelites. Nevertheless, God reveals his universal compassion, love and salvation to strangers, to foreigners.

Hence, even though those gentiles did not know God, yet in the deepest of their hearts they were longing for God. It was in this way that God allowed them to see His love for them. This gift of sight is indeed the hinge of all “liberations” in the bible. In the NT, John the Baptist even sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one?” Jesus answered them, “Tell John what you have seen and heard.”

In the story of Zacchaeus, it also reflected a story of a desire of a tax collector, a sinner, who wanted to see Jesus. So, Zacchaeus climbed up to a tree and saw Jesus and was commanded to go down for Jesus was to go into his (Zacchaeus) house. There, Zacchaeus confessed to Jesus to return what he had stolen from the poor four times and he would give half of all his possessions. It only means that Zacchaeus wanted to be ruined before Jesus. Giving his possessions and giving back four times what he had stolen expressed a radical response to Jesus’ invitation. The evangelist used this metaphor to convey the message of giving oneself to Christ. Thus, in this story, Zacchaeus also represented the people of Israel.

Those who believe in Jesus may become light as well. Jesus’ disciples, the gathered community of believers, are entrusted to be that light in the world, bringing Jesus to all nations and all cultures.

Part 4: The Table Fellowship

                The banquet or table fellowship is one of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry. Many a time, Jesus ate with sinners, fed the hungry (as to the feeding of the five thousand men), told parables about the banquet or gathered his disciples at table. These actions of Jesus perfectly portrayed the image of the Kingdom of God. All these table fellowships expressed a universal scope and intention that breaks any differences whether one is poor or rich, a man or a woman a child or an old man or a Jew or a gentile. This expresses further the eschatological plan of God. Salvation or the Kingdom of God is intended for all people, for all nations.

                Consequently, Jesus commanded his disciples in their table (supper) fellowship, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Remembering Jesus (not only in the Eucharist) is to become a disciple of Jesus. Therefore, not remembering Jesus in our life is unbecoming of a disciple of Jesus. However, by remembering Jesus is making him present and not just a “mere” remembrance of the distant past. Through this, the community of disciples carry out the command of Jesus “to preach the Gospel to all nations.” Yet, Jesus’ command was always demanding and always radical. His mission is always marked by vulnerability and weakness. We have to remember again that through his incarnation became vulnerable. At the start of his ministry, Jesus was prone to temptation. In his passion and death, Jesus was weak.  Nonetheless, Jesus never wavered his trust in the Father. Jesus completely submitted himself to the will of the Father.

                As Jesus’ disciple, who desire to follow the Lord, we are as well called to completely trust in the will of God. We are invited to put our dreams and hope, even our fears and anxieties into the loving hands of God. Jesus himself will teach us on how to do that through constant reflection of the sacred scriptures. We may encounter hardships and temptations to retreat to our own shells of comforts, yet, God will always look and invite us to come out and be his sign of redemption in the world.