18 October 2026 · No. 101
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A — World Mission Sunday
“One in Christ, United in Mission.”
Isaiah 45:1,4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21
This Sunday, we celebrate a historic milestone: the centenary of World Mission Sunday, established by Pope Pius XI in 1926. Under the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission,” we are invited to renew our commitment to spreading the Gospel through prayer, generosity and the witness of our daily lives.
In the first reading, God reminds us that He is the Lord of history, working even through people who do not know Him to accomplish His purpose. This challenges us to recognise that God’s mission is greater than our personal interests, ethnic affiliations, political differences and divisions. In the second reading, St. Paul praises the Thessalonians for their work of faith, labour of love and steadfastness of hope. These virtues should also characterise every missionary community: a faith that acts, a love that serves and a hope that perseveres, even in difficult circumstances.
In the Gospel, Jesus declares, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar — and to God what belongs to God.” While we fulfil our responsibilities as citizens, we must never forget that our whole being belongs to God. Created in His image and redeemed by Christ, we are called to offer Him our lives, talents, time and resources for His glory and the salvation of the world.
What does this mean for us today? Every baptised Christian is a missionary. We participate in this mission by praying for missionaries and vocations, supporting the Church’s missionary work through our World Mission Sunday collection, teaching the faith in our families, reconciling with those from whom we are divided, and showing practical concern for the poor, the vulnerable and those who feel forgotten. Our unity must be visible in the way we worship, collaborate, resolve conflicts and serve one another.
As we celebrate one hundred years of World Mission Sunday, let us remember that mission is not the responsibility of priests and religious alone. We are one family in Christ, sent to make God’s love known to all. May our faith bear fruit in loving service, and may our generosity help to bring the light of the Gospel to every corner of the world.