Brothers and Sisters,

Today is “World Mission Sunday”, a day set aside for the Catholic Church throughout the world to renew its commitment to the missionary movement that Jesus began and called all his followers to continue to completion. It is celebrated on the Sunday before the last Sunday of October every year. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as the day of prayer for missions. This year, October 18, 2026, marks the historic 100th anniversary of the global observance.

World Mission Sunday reminds us of our mission to continually proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, the good news of the all-embracing and steadfast love of God. Pope Francis says, “The Church is missionary by nature; otherwise, she would no longer be the Church of Christ but one group among many others that soon end up serving their purpose and passing away.” The Church must continue to fulfill the mission of Jesus by proclaiming the salvation of Christ to all people.

The first reading of this Sunday and the responsorial Psalm speak to the heart of the mission of the Church.  Isaiah fulfilled his mission by speaking to a people who wondered how God could forgive a people who messed up their lives so many times. They were afraid that God would never forgive them for the infidelities of priests and people.

Cyrus, the Persian emperor, had defeated many nations and finally Babylon in 539 B.C. and had become the ruler of the then Middle East. He was very tolerant and understanding toward the exiles and helped them re-establish themselves in their homeland. Isaiah called his people to see how God used the hands of a pagan king, to deliver his people, though the king did not even know it. Such was the love God had for his people that He used even “pagan hands” to save His people. God is God of everlasting, constant, all-embracing, and steadfast Love. God continues to reveal his plan and purpose through the most unexpected people and situations.

In the second reading of today’s mass, we read about Paul thanking God for the response of the Thessalonians to the Gospel that he and his companions had proclaimed. He told them how they “became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the holy Spirit so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia…. from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth….. in every place your faith in God has gone forth…” (1 Thessalonians 1:1-8).  The mission of proclaiming the Gospel is continued through the inspiring and faithful life of the Thessalonians.

To read more of these reflections, click on the button below…