23 .

Mission

This thesis traces the origin of the church to the mission of the son and the Holy Spirit.
This makes the church missionary by nature.
Acknowledging the plurality of religions and theologies and the church invites the
faithful to uphold the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and at the same time to discern Gods
salvific presence in other religions and cultures as well.
The thesis rightly points out the approach to mission has to be and integrated process,
incorporating inter religious dialogue, ecumenism, inculturation and establishing justice.

As the continuation of Gods mission manifested in Jesus Christ through the

spirit through the spirit, the church is missionary by its very nature( AG 1 -6)
Church is missionary by nature:
The God of the bible is other centered and relational.
As God is love, he wants to share his love, he manifested his love through Creation,
Prophets, kings, and finally god sent his Son.

Jesus experienced god as Abba.

Manifested his love through his words and deeds.
The church is to manifest Gods love that was expressed in Jesus Life ( Lk 4, 16 -21 =
Gods mission began at creation and expressed through his son, continued by the H,
carried out by the church.)
(Lk 4: 16 -21
To proclaim good new to the poor
freedom to the captives
sight to the blind
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord = Sabbatical year = Jubilee year
Sabbath is a day of rest for animals and land.)
The mission of Jesus is the mission of the church.
AG 1 -6 (1 -9: original) gives a theological basis for the mission of the church.
It systematically develops the nature of the church is missionary.
AG 1 church is divinely sent to the nations as universal sacrament of salvation. (Church
is called to be the salt and light).
(Rahner Schillebeux, Dulles, Gutierez, Tilead)
AG 2: Source of mission: is fathers love fountain like love of God.
AG 3: Mission of the son: God enters into human history through his son (incarnation) to
establish a relationship of peace and communion.
AG 4: Mission of the spirit: Continues the mission of god/ Jesus in the church (Pentecost)
AG 5: Mission of the Church: Initially through the ministry of the disciples and then through
the church, the mission of Christ is continued even today. The church is the sacrament of
salvation today.
AG 6: What is mission?
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Missions term for particular undertakings by the heralds of the gospel sent out by the
church going forth into the whole world, carrying out the task of preaching the gospel
and planting the church among the peoples or groups who do not yet believe in Christ.
The proper purpose of this missionary activity is evangelization.

2. In the context of the pluralism of religions and theology (LG 16, NA 1 -2)

The source of resurrection is ONE and the same but perceived differently and
experienced differently in the diverse religious traditions.
India is a country with pluralism of religions.
Variety of beliefs
Diverse doctrines
multiplicity of rites and cultures
In this context, catholic church in India faces the dual task of remaining faithful to its
beliefs and in the uniqueness of Christ and in discerning Gods salvific presence in the
plurality of religions and cultures
LG 16: Speaks of salvation of non Christians. Those who have not yet received the
gospel are related to the people of God in various ways.( Jews, Muslims, Hindus,
Atheists, tribals)
NA 1 : All human beings form one human community, having common origin and
common destiny. That is in God .
NA 2 : CC church rejects nothing that is true and holy in other religions. It exhorts
spiritual + moral goods of these religions must be acknowledged, promoted and
preserved.

3. The CC has to remain faithful to its beliefs in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ(Rm 5-8,
EA 10 -14) and continue his mission of making present Gods love and realize the divine
reign( EN 8,26,RM 13 -16) while discerning Gods alvific presence in the plurality of
religions and cultures( EA 15)
The uniqueness of Jesus Christ(Rm 5-8, EA 10 -14) (Christology)
Church while acknowledging the goodness in other religions ( LG 16,NA 1-2) affirms
the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in RM and EA.
Basing on Peters confession (Acts 4, 12) RM teaches there is no other name.( that is
there is salvation in no other name except Jesus Christ.)
Also it quotes Paul saying that - there is one God and One Mediator.( 1 Tim 2,5)

EA 10: Jesus is the highest gift that church can offer to the people of Asia. In this sense
mission is a privilege and duty of the church.
EA 11: Jesus is the God man who saves.
EA 12: Only in the person of Jesus does Gods word of salvation appear in all its
fullness.
EA 13 : Jesus Christ is the truth of humanity
EA 14: Uniqueness and universality of salvation in Christ.
Jesus Christ mains historys center and goal.

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RM 5 8 affirms the uniqueness of Christ.

RM 5: Uniqueness and universality of salvation: No one comes to the Father except through me
+ Acts 4, 12. He used Paul, John and Timothy to support this view.
RM 6 : No separation between Jesus of history and word of god.
RM 7-8 : Faith in Christ is directed to mans freedom. It doesnt abrogate his freedom.

Mission of making present Gods love and realize the divine reign( EN
8,26,RM 13 -16)

Jesus Christ through his life manifested Gods love ad his mission was to establish the
KOG.
During his earthly life and ministry the kingdom of god was his sole priority. Ex Mk
1,15: Jesus promises the kingdom. the manifesto of Jesus (Lk 4,16 -20) is the
actualization of the kingdom parable, his deeds, words, table fellowship, the prayer.
Our Father show his primary concern was to manifest Gods love and to realize the
divine reign.

EN 8 : as an evangelizer, Christ primarily proclaimed the KOG.

EN 28 : .to evangelize is first of all to bear witness, that in his son, God has loved the world.
RM 13 16: Speaks of KOG.
RM 13 : Christ makes the kingdom present. that is through his life and public ministry
inaugurated the kingdom.
RM 14 & 15: This kingdom for all:
brings forgiveness
healing
leads to salvation( Lk 18, 14 -30)
transforms human relations\
Kingdom demands us to love and serve one another.
RM 16 - KOG is fulfilled in the Risen Lord and proclaimed. After the resurrection, there is a
transition from kingdom of God to Jesus Christ himself because Christ (risen) becomes the
manifestation/expression of the kingdom of God.

Discerning Gods salvific presence in the plurality of religions and

cultures.(EA 15)
EA 15
Affirms that one can discern Gods salvific presence in the plurality of religions and
cultures.
Speaks of the presence of spirit of God in creation and history.
HS sow seeds of truth among all people irrespective of their religion, culture, or
philosophy( means these are capable of helping people to work against - evil to promote
life.)
HS serves as prime agent of Dialogue cultures and religions.
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Consequently the proclamation of the goodnews in a particular context

demands an integrated process of inter religious dialogue(EA 29,31),
Ecumenism(LG 15; EA 23 -28), Inculturation(EA 21 -22) ad work for justice,
both for humans and whole earth.(EA 32 -41).

Any activity where the faith of the other (along with ones own) is respected/ taken
seriously is called IRD.
Here Christian faith is not to measure the faith of the other but to serve through dialogue.
Dialogue demands a rootedness in ones own faith and openness to the faith of the other.

IRD is based on Christian faith which involves 3 aspects:

a. Anthropological (NA 1 : All humans have common origin and common destiny)
b. Theological ( God the creator, created us all and enlightens us(Gen 1, Jn 1,1 ; Sir 17, 8)
c. Ecclesiological ( as Jesus established community as a sacrament/sign of the kingdom, so
also church is to be a sign/ sacrament of this kingdom).
EA 29: Desire for dialogue is not simply a strategy for peaceful co-existence among
peoples but an essential part of Churchs mission.
EA 31 : Speaks of IRD:
IRD is developed in a context of
Desire to respect.
Understanding
Openness to the believers
Willingness to listen to their differences.
For this it demands: a love of others
resulting in collaboration
harmony
mutual enrichment
Different types of dialogue:
1. Dialogue of life: Where people strive to live in an open and neighborly spirit sharing in joys
and sorrows,, human problems and occupations.
2. Dialogue of Action : for integral development and liberation of people.
3. Dialogue of theological exchange: Where specialists seek to deepen their theological
understanding.
4. Dialogue of religious exchange: Share their religious riches with regard to prayer and
contemplation etc.
EcumenismLG 15, EA 23 -28)
Ecumenism is a process directed towards achievement of unity among all Christian churches.
Done by - overcoming mutual suspicion and hatred.
Collaboration taste of proclaiming Gods love.
Establishing the KOG.
Not oneness ( bringing into one God) but unity( a conciliar fellowship).
witness to Christ.
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LG 15 : Speaks of unity among / with other baptized Christians by recognizing :

Jesus I the norm of faith and life.
Believing in God the Father.
Receiving Baptism and other sacraments.
Celebrating Eucharist.
Devotion to Mary.
Church recognizes the power of the HS in them which is a move towards ecumenism.
EA 24: in the midst of many different peoples, cultures, religions, the life of the church as
communion assumes greater importance.
Hence unity within the church has specific relevance in Asia where there are divisions,
conflicts et.
EA 25: Communion within the Church (at every level such as particular church, parish level, etc.
EA 26: Solidarity among churches (openness and collaboration with one another Regional
National
International
Ea 27: catholic eastern churches (calling for more and more collaboration between east and west
overcoming fears and misunderstandings)
EA 28: Speaks of sharing hopes and sufferings.

Inculturation: (EA 21 -22)

Inculturation is a relationship between gospel and a particular culture in which gospel

enters into a culture and transforms it from within.
EA 21: speaks of inculturation. Church gives importance to inculturation because
evangelization and inculturation are naturally and intimately related to each other.
EA 22: Areas of Inculturation:
Theology
Liturgy
Formation os evangelizers.
Obstacles:
Exclusivist and dogmatic claims by the church
Language of exclusivism and superficiality.
Western spirituality and theology.
Work for justice:
- Jesus Christ manifested gods love and established the KOG here on earth, identified with
the poor, destitute and the oppressed; restored their dignity( LK 4, 16 -20 = manifesto of
Jesus)
- YHWH God who loves the poor, hears the cry of the oppressed. In the same way, the
church which is called to do the mission of Jesus should identify itself with the poor
oppressed work for justice, peace and equality and restore human dignity(uphold
human rights).
- EA 32: Church is called to reach out all people especially in loving service of the poor
and destitutes.
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EA 33: speaks of the dignity of human person and encourages all to work towards the
promotion of human rights, justice peace etc.
(Moltman, lindbeck(Synod of Bishops 1971) EN, LE, SRS, Centiasimus Annus)
- EA 34: Preferential love for the poor and voiceless, because the Lord has identified
himself with them.
- EA 36 : work for health care(HIV,AIDs, etc)
- EA 37 : Education for all
- EA 38 : peacemaking among all.
- EA 40 : Condemns foreign debts, corruption, misappropriation of Public funds.
- EA 41 : Environmental( stewardship) protecting the environment and caring for the
earth.
Conclusion:
Challenges of Indian Mission:
a. Challenge of being church to serve and not to be served.
b. Challenge of prayer : whether Christian religious communities are centres of prayer and
contemplation.
c. Challenge of dialogue :
- With faith seekers discipleship witness.
- With the poor and the marginalized solidarity.
- People of different cultures inculturation
- People of different religious tradition IRD.
d. Empowering the poor Preferential option for the poor.

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