Cardinal Tagle: Mission work is about sharing the 'gift of oneself'

A Filipino cardinal emphasized that going on a mission is not merely about performing tasks but about sharing the gift of oneself with others.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle highlighted that, just as Jesus is sent by the Father to others through the Eucharist, everyone is called to be a gift to others.

“Jesus is sent to be given by the Father to others… He is not sent just to wander around and enjoy Himself. He is sent to be given. The missioner is a gift,” he said.

The pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization delivered this message during the homily at the Closing Mass of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indiana, United States, on July 21.

Appointed by Pope Francis as his special envoy for the five-day event, which focused on the theme “Remain in Me,” Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to emulate Christ by offering their physical presence to others.

“Go to church. Go to Mass with the gift of your flesh... Jesus gives His flesh. Why can we not give Him and the community the gift of our physical presence?” he asked the congregation.

Addressing a crowd of around 50,000 Catholics, the cardinal relayed Pope Francis' hope that the participants of the Congress, fully aware of the universal gifts they receive from heavenly food, would share those gifts with others.

Cardinal Tagle stressed the importance of staying with the Lord in the Eucharist and sharing Him with others.

“We should not keep Jesus to ourselves. That is not discipleship. That is selfishness. The gift we have received, we should give as a gift,” he said.

He also noted that the diminishing appreciation of one’s own gifts and giftedness leads to a weakening of missionary zeal.

“If our horizon is only that of achievement, success, and profit, there is no room to see and receive gratuitous gifts,” he explained. “There is no place for gratitude and self-giving. There will only be a relentless search for self-affirmation that eventually becomes oppressive and tiring, leading to more self-absorption or individualism.”

Cardinal Tagle warned that allowing pessimism to take over makes it difficult to appreciate each other’s gifts.

“Those who do not see gifts in themselves and others will not give gifts. They will not go on a mission,” he said.

Between 1895 and 1941, nine national Eucharistic congresses were held in the United States. The last congress, which took place 83 years ago, was held in Minnesota.