As a child, an inspiration to mission came with the ‘Red Box’ which sat on the hall shelf. There were many inspirations - the red box collecting funds for APF now called Missio, the magaznes from the missionary orders which described life in mission stations in exotic countries which I never thought I could visit, the excitement of Africa and Latin America. Later I learnt of the work of the Mill Hill Missionaries and then the Medical Missionaries of Mary who do wonderful work and developed pioneering medicine in countries where they worked.

I was sent to All Hallows College in Dublin to study for priesthood. Above the door was written ‘Euntes Docete Omnes Gentes’ (Go teach all nations). From 1842 onwards these words inspired priests to go to English speaking countries. From 1842 to 1998 and the last ordination, the College sent over 4000 priests to Britain, the US, South Africa and Australia.

The theme ‘One in Christ, United in Mission’ continued at home in the work of the Catholic Missionary Society, CMS. Archbishop Richard Downey was ordained for the Liverpool diocese in 1907 and served as a member of the Catholic Missionary Society for fifteen years preaching and defending Catholic teaching before sceptical or hostile audiences. He reminds us of the courage needed to preach the gospel.

Today, Missionaries of Africa, Spiritans (formerly Holy Ghost Fathers), Missionaries of St Paul, the Missionaries of Charity Sisters in Seel Street, and women religious, including those from overseas, continue the work of mission in this Archdiocese. The missionaries have come to us to help us rediscover the meaning of Jesus Christ and help us understand the global Church in Christ, united in mission.

The first reading tells us of King Cyrus of Persia, who conquered the Babylonians, and allowed the exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. God worked through this pagan king, who did not know him, to enable his work to continue. King Cyrus reminds us that the Holy Spirit ‘writes straight with crooked lines’ and so we need to be open to discern the Spirit at work in unexpected people and places. We live in an international Church, which is diverse, brings giftedness from many countries, and shares being one in Christ, and united in mission.

In today’s gospel, the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus and ask him about whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. He replies, ‘render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and ‘to God the things that are God’s.’ This quote suggests the challenge of how both to live in society and live fully our Catholic faith. We render to Caesar and our country those things that are legitimate to do so but we always remember God’s law is beyond human law. While the coin in the gospel bears the head of Caesar, each person is made in the image and likeness of God. This is our standard. We must ask whether the dignity of each person truly respected and protected.

Being Catholic and Christian binds us together and unites us across countries, colours, and backgrounds; each person having the dignity of being created in the image and likeness of God. Faith and baptism in Christ overcome prejudice and division and so we must always stand firm against those who begin to introduce divisions in society depending on where people come from or how they arrived here. The story is always more complicated than the news would suggest. Each person has a name and a family. I have been horrified to hear of volunteers in the Archdiocese being challenged because they were welcoming migrants. This weekend I read of families of the RNLI lifeboat volunteers being targeted because of their work of rescue in the English Channel. We are one in Christ.

We are each called to be a missionary disciple, ready to proclaim Jesus Christ who loves us, saves us, and walks with us. For God has chosen you. You are chosen and called to bear fruit in the world.

We are called to bear fruit in our families by prayer and love. We are called to pray for them, love them and accompany them towards Christ.

We bear fruit as the presence of Christ in our city, region, and Archdiocese through acts of prayer, justice, love and peace-building.

We bear fruit by praying for the many Christians, our brothers and sisters, who continue to suffer for their faith today and face discrimination, persecution, suffering and death.

The Pope reminds that being ‘One in Christ’ as disciples is a beginning, but being ‘united in mission’ is the next step.