Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

Eminent biblical scholar Francis J. Moloney, SDB, explores the teaching on mission found in the letters of St. Paul, in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, in Luke-Acts, and in the Gospel of John, showing how each of the inspired authors provides unique yet complementary insights into the mission entrusted to the followers of Jesus-a mission ad intra (to the community) and ad Gentes (to the wider world). While acknowledging the primacy of the missionary vocation of Jesus of Nazareth, Moloney's focus in this work is on those disciples who appear in the New Testament texts and the myriad further Christian disciples who have been inspired by them through the centuries. He concludes with a study of the celebration of the Eucharist as the heart of the Christian mission: "As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Cor 11:26).