"The nations will walk in his light" (21: 24)
This Sunday dedicated to the missions, I turn first of all you, my brothers in the priestly and episcopal ministry, and also to you, brothers and sisters of the whole People of God, to encourage each one to revive in himself the conscience of the missionary mandate of Christ to "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19), following the footsteps of St. Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles.
"The nations will walk by its light" (Rev 21:24). Objective of the mission of the Church is, indeed, shed the light of the Gospel to all peoples in their historical journey to God, so that in him they may reach their full potential and fulfillment. We feel the desire and passion to enlighten all peoples the light of Christ shining in the face of the Church, to gather everyone in one human family under God's loving fatherhood.
In this perspective the disciples of Christ spread throughout the world work, struggle, groaning under the burden of suffering and donate life. Strongly reaffirm what has been repeatedly told by my predecessors, the Church does not act to extend his power or assert their dominance, but to bring all to Christ, the salvation of the world. We seek only to place ourselves at the service of humanity, especially of suffering and the marginalized, because we believe that "the effort to proclaim the Gospel to the people of our time ... is certainly a service that lends itself to the Christian community and even the whole mankind "(Evangelii nuntiandi, 1), which" has experienced marvelous achievements but which seems to have lost the sense of ultimate realities and the very existence "(Redemptoris Missio, 2).
1. All people are called to salvation
All humanity has the radical vocation to return to its source which is God, the only one who find fulfillment through the restoration of all things in Christ. The dispersion, multiplicity, conflict, enmity will be calmed and reconciled through the blood of the Cross, and back to unity.
The new beginning has already started with the resurrection and exaltation of Christ, which draws to itself all things, renewing the share in the eternal joy of God. The future of the new creation is already shining in our world and on, but in the midst of contradictions and sufferings, the hopes of a new life. The mission of the Church is to "spread" of hope to all peoples. This is why Christ calls, justifies, sanctifies and sends his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, that all nations may to be the People of God. Only within such a mission is understood and authenticates the true path in human history. The mission should become a universal fundamental constant in the life of the Church. Proclaiming the Gospel must be for us, as it was for the Apostle Paul, a primary and impelling.
2. Pilgrim Church
universal Church, without borders and without boundaries, feels responsible for proclaiming the Gospel to entire villages (cf. Evangelii nuntiandi, 53). She, the seed of hope by vocation, must continue the service of Christ to the world. Its mission and service are not tailored to the material needs or even spiritual depleted in the box temporal existence, but a transcendent salvation, which is realized in the Kingdom of God (cf. Evangelii nuntiandi, 27). This Kingdom, although in its eschatological fullness and not of this world (cf. Jn 18.36), is also in this world and in history force for justice, peace, true freedom and dignity of each man. The Church seeks to transform the world through the proclamation of the Gospel of love, "to illuminate a dark world and gives us the strength to live and act ... and thus bring the light of God to the world "(Deus Caritas Est, 39). It is this mission and service, with this message, call to engage all members and institutions the Church.
3. "Missio ad gentes"
Thus, the mission of the Church is to call all peoples to salvation by God operated through his incarnate Son. It is therefore necessary to renew the commitment to proclaim the Gospel, which is the leaven of liberty and progress, brotherhood, unity and peace (cf. Ad Gentes, 8). I would "confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church" (Evangelii nuntiandi, 14), task and mission which the vast and profound changes in today's society becoming more urgent. Is in question of eternal salvation of people, purpose and the actual conduct of human history and the universe. Encouraged and inspired by the Apostle of the Gentiles, we must realize that God has many people in all the cities visited by the apostles of today (cf. Acts 18:10). Indeed, "The promise is for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2.39).
The whole Church must be committed to the missio ad gentes, until the saving sovereignty of Christ is not fully realized: "At present we see that all things are subject to Him" \u200b\u200b(Heb 2.8).
4. Also called to evangelize through martyrdom
On this day dedicated to the missions, I remember in prayer those who have made his life a unique dedication to the work of evangelization. Special mention is for those local churches and missionaries for those who bear witness and spread the Kingdom of God in times of persecution, with forms of oppression ranging from social discrimination to jail, torture and death. Not a few of them are put to death because of their "Name." It is still a tremendous now that my venerated predecessor, Pope John Paul II: "Memory Jubilee has opened an amazing sight, showing our time particularly rich in witnesses who, one way or another, have learned to live the Gospel in situations of hostility and persecution, often to give his own blood as the supreme proof "(Novo Millennio Ineunte, 41).
participation in the mission of Christ, in fact, affects the life of the preachers of the Gospel, to whom is reserved the same fate as their Master. "Remember the word that I said: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you "(Jn 15:20). The Church follows the same path and suffer the same fate of Christ, because it acts as a logic or relying on human reason of force, but by following the way of the Cross, becoming, in filial obedience to the Father, control and traveling companion of humankind.
In the old Churches and the recently founded remind them that have been placed by the Lord as the salt of the earth and light of the world, called to spread Christ, Light of the Gentiles, until the ends of the earth. The missio ad gentes must be the priority of their pastoral.
A Pontifical Mission Societies extend my thanks and my encouragement for the indispensable work of animation, missionary training and financial assistance to ensure the young Churches. Through these institutions Papal is admirably achieved communion between the Churches, gift exchange, reciprocal concern and common missionary.
5. Conclusion
The missionary spirit has always been a sign of vitality of our churches (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 2). It is necessary, however, reaffirm that evangelization is the work of the Spirit and that, even prior to action, is to witness and irradiation of light of Christ (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 26) by the local Church, which sends its missionaries to go beyond its borders. Therefore I ask all Catholics to pray the Holy Spirit to increase the Church's passion for the mission to spread the Kingdom of God, and claiming to missionaries, missionaries and Christian communities involved at the forefront of this mission, sometimes in hostile pursuit.
At the same time, I invite everyone to give a credible sign of communion between the Churches, with financial assistance, especially at the stage of crisis affecting humanity, for local churches to put in a position to enlighten the world with the Gospel of charity.
guide us in our missionary activity the Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization, which has given the world to Christ as a light to the nations, to bring salvation "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13.47).
To all my blessing.
Benedict XVI, Vatican June 29, 2009
PEACE AND WELL ...
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