How can the resurrection of Christ inspire the life of a missionary dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel in Africa? The resurrection is the victory of life over death, of good over evil, of light over darkness. For a missionary facing challenges such as poverty, conflict, disease, cultural incomprehension or persecution, the resurrection of Christ is a constant reminder that nothing is impossible for God. It invites us to persevere with confidence, even when the fruits of our mission are slow to appear. ‘If we have died with him, with him we shall live’ (2 Tim 2:11).
In a continent marked by both deep historical wounds and burning hope, the Resurrection gives missionaries a promise of renewal, liberation and human dignity, because the Risen One comes to restore man to his fullness. This message can particularly touch hearts in Africa, where the quest for meaning, justice and abundant life is profound. People may not understand everything about the Word of God, but they see love in action, and it touches their hearts. This silent, humble, often hidden witness carries a powerful light, capable of opening hearts to God.
The resurrection does not erase the wounds of the Passion: ‘He showed them his hands and his side’. (Jn 20:19-29) These marks become glorious signs of an extreme love, freely given to the very end. When we contemplate this mystery, we understand that true charity is never comfortable, but that it goes as far as the total gift of self in the face of suffering, incomprehension or abandonment. ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (Jn 15:13). The missionary finds in the joy of the resurrection the strength to love without counting the cost, to give himself fully, sometimes to the point of sacrifice. They live not for themselves, but for the One who died and rose again for all (cf. 2 Cor 5:15).
After the resurrection, the disciples moved from fear to the proclamation of new life in Jesus Christ. Missionaries are called to experience the same impulse: to proclaim with joy that Christ is alive, that he walks with people, that he transforms hearts. This contagious joy can touch those in search of the truth and draw them to the Gospel, even in contexts marked by the unpredictability of everyday life. ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead’ (Lk. 24:5)
In Africa, mission is not limited simply to preaching in words, but is often lived out in proximity, compassion, and service. Whether it’s teaching, caring, listening or sharing in the daily lives of the poorest, every act becomes a participation in the love of the Risen Christ. This charity does not come from mere human effort, but from the power of the new life received from Christ. Announcing the resurrection does not mean fleeing from the present reality to dream of heaven: it means working now to transform the world, sowing seeds of justice, peace, education and reconciliation.
The resurrection makes charity creative and daring, capable of reaching out to others where they are, and lifting them up. Living charity in a missionary context can sometimes mean facing ingratitude, loneliness or apparent failure. But the resurrection assures us that the gift of self for the Kingdom is never in vain. Even if the fruits are not visible, God is at work in secret, and the seed lovingly sown will bear fruit in its own time. ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’ (Gal 2:20).
The missionary becomes a craftsman of resurrection where death seems to have the last word. When we love to the end, we become a living sign of the risen Christ.
By: Salvador Muñoz-Ledo, M.Afr.