10 July, Thursday — A call to share

Thursday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time

Gen 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5
Mt 10:7-15

‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

I’ve often wondered what it must have felt like to be sent on mission by Jesus. Were the Twelve given a heads up? Or were they taken by surprise when Jesus told them to just go, empty-handed, and rely entirely on the goodwill of those they met? Were they prepared for what lay ahead? Did they have any expectations of what they were being called to do?

Recently, I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip myself. Although it wasn’t as sudden as what the apostles experienced in today’s Gospel, it still came about unexpectedly. Over dinner with an old friend, she mentioned that the mission trip she was joining still needed more participants. Would I be interested? Three months later, I found myself in Battambang, Cambodia, on my first mission trip.

Despite having several prep sessions beforehand, I didn’t really know what to expect. In my mind, I was called to this mission to share the joy of the Gospel and bring the love of God to the local communities through my encounters with them. But how I was supposed to do that was unclear. The mission focused on education — helpful if one were a teacher by profession, which I am not. All I had to offer was my time and my heart. I prayed that would be enough.

My week-long trip was composed of daily work at two locations. During the day, we taught at a local primary school run by the Ursuline Sisters. In the evenings, we ran activities — talks, games, and catechism, with the teenagers at Mazzarello House, a boarding facility run by the Salesian Sisters for the poorest girls in the province to help them continue their education.

On the first day of our mission, the sisters arranged for us to visit some of the homes in the village — to meet the families of the children we would be teaching throughout the week. I imagined it might be a little like what Jesus asked of His disciples: to bring peace to the homes that welcomed them. But what I encountered was the opposite — it was their peace and contentment that deeply moved me, something easily overlooked in our consumer-driven society.

In one home, we met a grandfather skilled in crafts and carpentry. He was making intricate headdresses for his traditional dance troupe — each worth USD $250 if sold. But he was making them for free, out of love. He had also crafted beautiful wooden outdoor furniture for his family’s use, and not for sale. We couldn’t understand why he didn’t monetise his skills to improve their living conditions. But to him, life was already full — he enjoyed his craft, there was food, and the grandchildren were in school. That was enough.

At another home, a joyful five-year-old sang for us and won our hearts. When we gave her candies and stickers, she immediately brought them to her older cousins nearby and let them have first pick. Her generosity struck me — would I have done the same with my ‘first fruits’?

There were many other God-moments that week.

At the school, I was moved by the children’s affection and love. They gave us small, personal gifts, not out of surplus, but from what little they had — a hair clip they were wearing, a sticker, a shoe charm from their own shoes. A caring nine-year-old in my class reminded me daily that it was hot and that I should drink more water.

When I fell ill midweek, their care and encouragement gave me strength. Truly, God animated me through them.

I had always thought that mission was about me giving — offering my time, love, and experience of Christ. But what I received far outweighed anything I could have given.

I saw the face of Christ everywhere in this Cambodian community — in the missionaries who have given their lives to serve the people; in my mission teammates, who remained joyful and selfless despite long, exhausting days; and most powerfully, in the teenagers at Mazzarello House. These young converts — from the poorest of families — radiated joy, gratitude, and unwavering trust in the Lord. I found myself wondering: Who was catechising whom?

I’ve learned that sharing the Gospel isn’t only done through preaching. It happens through kindness, presence, patience, and the way we treat one another. I thought my role was to let people know they are deeply loved by God — but in the process, I was the one who witnessed His love.

Was this what the Twelve experienced, too? Did they start off focused on what they were sent to do — only to find themselves changed forever by the people they met?

(Today’s OXYGEN by Esther Leet)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call each of us to go forth and proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near — not just in words, but through love, presence, and service. Open our eyes to see You in the people we serve, and to be transformed by their witness of faith, joy, and generosity. Amen.

Thanksgiving: Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to serve, and to experience Your love in unexpected places. Thank You for showing me that mission is not only about what I give, but how I receive Your grace through those I meet. Amen.