Homily for the Memorial of St. Paul Miki & Companions

St. Mark illustrates that, early in His ministry, Jesus sent out the Twelve disciples He had chosen to assist Him in His work. He commissioned them to do what He had been doing: preaching the gospel and healing the sick. Jesus recognized that He needed help from others to accomplish the mission He had been given. Similarly, Jesus still needs us today to carry out His work. We are called to be His eyes, ears, hands, feet, voice, and presence wherever we are. He desires to work in and through us.

St. Paul understood this concept clearly. He viewed the Church as the Body of Christ in the world. The Body of Christ cannot function effectively unless everyone fulfills the role they are called and equipped to play through their baptism. Each person has a unique contribution to make to the life of the Body and, consequently, to the work of the Lord in today’s world. Every individual is indispensable and essential. The first reading from the letter to the Hebrews expresses this clearly: in the Church, everyone is regarded as a “first-born child” and a “citizen of heaven.” There are to be no second-class citizens in the Church. Each of us is a vital member of Christ’s Body, uniquely endowed by the Lord for His work and mission in the world.