Monthly Reflection   November, 2005   The Challenge to Mission in Today's World   by Rev. Austin Walsh, S.T.     One of the insights of Vatican II that should never be lost is its call to read the signs of the times. The prophetic role of the Church, like the role of the ancient prophets, is not to predict the future but to proclaim the presence of God in our world and to announce what is of God and what is not of God in our culture and in the ordinary occurrences of life.   The mission of the Church is to extend the reign of God inaugurated by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We have been empowered to do this because the spirit has been given to us to continue this mission of Jesus.   The Reign of God, simply put, is the power and presence of God in our world. And the marks and signs of this powerful presence are peace, compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, charity, hope , human development, dialogue, etc. We, the Church, are servants of the Reign of God and all of our ministries should serve the ongoing mission of Jesus, i.e., to extend the Reign of God.   The challenges to this mission are many - they are the opposites of the qualities and signs of the presence of God in our world: war, injustice, nationalism, despair, poverty, racism, intolerance, consumerism, materialism, narcissism, etc. This is not a taxative list. To counter these challenges we have to be counter cultural by letting the light of the gospel shine on all cultures and events - affirming what is good and exposing what is not life-giving and therefore not of God. Such a counter cultural position begins with a personal assessment of how the negative aspects of our culture have invaded our lives. Without such a reflection we can be influenced by materialism, consumerism, narcissism - to name just a few.   This is why the contemplative stance is so important because it allows us to perceive the world with the eyes of Jesus and to act on our perceptions. Without such a stance, our opposition to the negative challenges to our mission can be purely political or worse, ideological. Like Jesus, we are called upon to speak the truth with love. We are called upon to announce a better way.   Questions for reflection:         What negative aspects of our culture have crept into our lives?         Do I sit lightly on possessions and share with those who have little?          Is my ministry all about me or does it really help to extend God's Reign?          Is work more important to me than relationships?