“Being firm and joyful in being an ‘ambassador for Christ and His Kingdom!'”

(Based on Acts 13:13-25 and Jn 13:16-20 – Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter)

In 1994, Rwanda became a place of terror.

>> While the world turned its back, and the embassies were evacuating their citizens…
>> While even United Nations peacekeepers were packing their bags and boarding flights out of Kigali…

There was one man who chose to stay.
>> Carl Wilkens.

An American missionary.
>> Not a soldier or a diplomat.
>> Not even a politician.
Just a man who had tasted the love of Christ…
… and could not walk away while thousands were walking to their deaths.

The U.S. embassy urged him.
>> His own government told him: “It’s too dangerous.”

But he said, “If I leave, who will help them?
>> Who will speak for those who have no voice?”

He stayed – risking his life to protect Tutsis from genocide.
>> He hid them. Fed them.
>> Drove through bloodied streets to bring aid.
And through his courage, hundreds were rescued!


Carl Wilkens became, in effect, an ‘ambassador’ of compassion…
… his presence reflecting a higher Kingdom, one rooted in Christ’s love and courage.

[Source: Wilkens, C. (2011). I’m Not Leaving. EPPress.]


The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the “Ambassador” of His Heavenly Father…
… and in turn, invites each of us to be His Ambassador and of His Kingdom in our world.


Jesus says: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send, receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives the One who sent Me” (Jn 13:20)

Jesus came into this world to reveal the love and mercy of God.
>> He is the Love made flesh and the Mercy incarnate.


While on earth, Jesus sought to be the perfect Representative of God, His Almighty and Beloved Father.

Finding deep communion in long hours of prayer, Jesus would emphatically give witness to His Father…
… by His mighty deeds of power, spectacular wonders of healing and His heart-touching words of eternal life.


This mission of being the Ambassador of the Father, was however, not without its shares of pain for Jesus…
… He had the face the pain of being rejected by His own people
… He had to bear the agony of being betrayed by His own chosen one
… He had to face the humiliation of the worst form of execution known those days

Yet, none of this could deter the Lord from choosing to be the “Ambassador” for the Kingdom of Heaven.


He today invites each one of us to be an “Ambassador” for Him and His Kingdom.
… Being convinced and passionate in preaching the message of the Lord and His Kingdom to others.
… Making our very lives as a witness of the Love and Mercy of God.
… Seeking the good of all and uplifting everyone.
… Bringing others to faith in Jesus and make His message of love and holiness to spread to all.


St Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians echoes this call and invite of the Lord, to be His Ambassadors…
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:18-20).


Let’s realise that “you don’t always need a pulpit to preach…
… you need a life that proclaims Christ!”

Let us be firm and joyful in being an “ambassador for Christ and His Kingdom!”


God Bless! Live Jesus!


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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE –
The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
>> Obedience toward parents ceases with the emancipation of the children; not so respect, which is always owed to them.
>> This respect has its roots in the fear of God, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (CCC # 2217)
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