Brad Rozairo, OMI – The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have worked in Japan for the last seventy-five years. God has generously sent laborers to care for His mission in the Far East. Today, many who labored may not be with us, but they have left their memories in the hearts and minds of the people they ministered to. We salute them for their dedication, sacrifice and commitment.
In the Oblate circles, when we talk about the missionaries who have toiled for the Japan mission, we speak highly of individual achievements. I think this is a natural feeling in each person, and it is not wrong to be proud of one’s achievements or accomplishments. But we should guard against the self-centered “egotistical pride” that boasts of our accomplishment!
I know some Oblates who compare the past with the present and feel unhappy with how the present-day Oblates carry out missionary activities. Some of the comments they make are mostly about the achievement of a certain individual who is no longer among the living. Sometimes, when I listen to a few comments, I wonder whether we work for God’s kingdom or one’s self-satisfaction. When we take credit for what we have achieved, we take control of the mission and keep God out of the picture. Let us be reminded of what the Bible says: “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts, there is no room for God” (Psalm 10:4).
In addressing a community of lay missionaries, Pope Francis said that “the mission is not an achievement, but a gift.” These words of our Holy Father have made me reflect on my presence and ministry in Japan. As a missionary, I have been ministering to people for the last thirty years, and I wonder how many times I thought about the land (Japan) I have been called to work as a gift that belongs to God. Although I feel that I have paid little attention to this, there is immense joy in receiving God’s gift in the form of my ‘first obedience’ from the Superior General. As I look back on the many years of my ministry, I am also happy to have received gifts. I mean people, both Japanese and foreigners, who have made a big difference in my life. My encounters with them have brought blessings and challenges, and God has shaped my life through the latter.
Recently, I listened to a retreat talk given by a priest on “An Integration of Mission and Ministry”. He mentioned that we do not possess a mission because a mission belongs to God, while a ministry belongs to us. According to him, to be effective missionaries, we need to define the mission of God in our lives. His talk prompted me to reflect on what I have been doing in Japan. I asked myself: Do I understand the mission of God in my life so that I can fulfill that mission through my ministry?
Having worked in various mission parishes, I feel that ministry has helped me forge close connections with people. However, I must confess that I have not paid sufficient attention to the fact that the mission brings me closer to God. I do not recall having a serious conversation with God regarding His mission. I believe this could be the reason why, at times, I have struggled to succeed in ministry. When we focus solely on ministries and our achievements, we tend to lose our closeness to God and forget that HE is in control of the mission.
