Missionary Work Gives Joy

In his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, issued November 24, 2013,  Pope Francis at section 15 quotes the encyclical of John Paul II,  Redemptoris Missio (December 7, 1990), stating that “the missionary task must remain foremost”.   Commenting on these words just quoted, the pope states:

What would happen if we were to take these words seriously? We would realize that missionary outreach is paradigmatic for all the Church’s activity. Along these lines the Latin American bishops stated that we “cannot passively and calmly wait in our church buildings”; we need to move “from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry”. This task continues to be a source of immense joy for the Church: “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15:7).

Evangelii Gaudium (November 24, 2013) at section 15 (quoting Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops, Aparecida Document, 29 June 2007, 548).

This is a new way to look at Luke 15:7.  The messenger who brings the good news is blessed with great spiritual consolation.  But doesn't the text refer to "joy in heaven," with no reference to joy for the missionary?  The pope quotes Luke 15 as a matter of joy "for the church."  The church is present in heaven and on earth.  It's not a stretch, then, for the pope to rely on this verse in his discussion of the connection between joy and the work of sharing the gospel.