Go and invite everyone to the banquet

Ignite the missionary zeal to extend the invitation of Jesus to all

In a world filled with division and exclusion, Jesus' appeal to "Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet" serves as a powerful reminder of the all-encompassing love of God.  This invitation knows no bounds, extending far beyond the confines of a select few; it encompasses all of humanity and the entire creation. It shatters the barriers of race, nationality, social status, and any other divisive factors that seek to separate us. As disciples of Christ, we are summoned to fully embrace this invitation and ardently extend it to every corner of the earth.

The command to "go and invite everyone to the banquet" is a possibility of sharing the love of God with everyone, to journey together and become partakers of the kingdom of God. Through my experience with Quebec Foreign Mission (SME in French)  I have come to understand that this command is to everyone and not limited to the priests or religious alone, but to all the baptized. Obedience to this commandment allows us to be in the presence of the Spirit of God that frees our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:17), giving us the grace to freely Choose Christ in everything. This grace makes us his instruments. This has been my experience, especially in participating in the mission in the Philippines.

I have had different moments when I have had to reaffirm my ‘Yes’, choosing to embrace the challenges and become part of the solution. Together with all the members who compose the missionary team in the Philippines, we have lived both moments of joy and trials, disagreements and consensus, and all these moments, have been for me opportunities to grow and learn. Along the way, I have discovered that more than learning how to do mission, it is important to learn as well those with whom we do mission, so that one takes his or her rightful position to complete the whole body. 

I have personally, taken advantage of the visits of other missionaries, especially the superiors who come to listen to us and encourage us. With their visits, our project Vocational Awakening Program in the Philippines, (VAPP) has received different perspectives that has given us new energy to keep pushing further. I am personally, grateful to the most recent visit of Fr. Ergete Tesfaye, pmé (the General Superior)  and  Fr. Jacques Doyon, pmé (the General Bursar). I appreciated so much their readiness and availability to visit places where SME has worked before, for instance, the mission station of Malita, Davao Occidental, where in my opinion, was at the Heart of the Vocational Awakening, here in the Philippines and has ushered radiation to other places nearby and in the City of Digos. Their visit was indeed a Spirit-filled experience.

I have also always cherished our encounters during the month of February that is the month of the foundation of the SME, and has been made for us here a month of Love. As part of the memories of this year’s month of February, my memories draw me back to the preparations, enthusiasm and simplicity of our celebrations. Indeed, all were occasions to ‘invite everyone to the banquet.’ This invitation was much fulfilling upon the arrival of two of our brothers from Kenya, Brother Joseph Omuruga and Gerald Maritim, from TFCK (Theologian Formation Center in Kenya) who have been with us since 7th of February for their Missionary Exposure.

To pursue our commitment to ‘invite everyone to the banquet’, we have had encounters with groups of students, teachers, local government workers, parish pastoral council, religious groups, and many more, offering them recollections and guiding talks.  We intend to keep preparing and getting ready for many more upcoming activities and events including the sectoral meeting in Japan in September, 2024, to be attended by our local person in-charge. 

Day by day, I open up myself to be part of these great activities and events that indeed, are a true participation in building the kingdom of God. I feel not only invited to the banquet, but also accepted and accommodated. Let us all "Go and invite everyone to the banquet."

How can we actively participate in this call to go and Invite all to the Banquet? 

How can we embrace the diversity of God's creation and extend the invitation to those who need it most?