"The nations will walk by its light" (Rev. 21, 24)
On this Sunday dedicated missions, I turn first to you, brothers and priests in the Episcopal ministry, and then to you, brothers and sisters, the whole People of God, to exhort everyone to revive an awareness of the missionary mandate of Christ to "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19), in the footsteps of St. Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles.
" The nations will walk by its light ( Rev 21.24). The purpose of the Church's mission is to shed the light of the Gospel all the peoples in their historic journey to God, because in Him they reach their full potential and their fulfillment. We have to feel 1'ansia and passion to enlighten all peoples, by the light of Christ that shines on the face of the Church, because all may be gathered one human family under the fatherhood of God's loving
It is here that the disciples of Christ spread throughout the world work, struggle and groan under the burden of suffering and give life. I strongly reiterate what has been said many times that my predecessors: the Church does not act to extend his power and assert its dominance, but to bring Christ to all, save the world. We seek to place ourselves at the service of humanity, especially the suffering and the excluded, because we believe that "the effort to proclaim the Gospel to the people of our time ... is undoubtedly a service rendered to the Christian community, but also to all mankind "( Evangelii nuntiandi , 1), which" has experienced marvelous achievements but which seems to have lost its sense of ultimate realities and of existence itself "(Redemptoris missio , 2).
1. All Peoples called to salvation
of humanity, in truth, the radical vocation to return to its source, which is God, in whom only find fulfillment through the restoration of all things in Christ. The dispersion, diversity, conflict and enmity will be healed and reconciled through the blood of the Cross, and back to unity.
This new beginning has already begun with the resurrection and exaltation of Christ, which draws all things to himself, renewing, making them share in the eternal joy of God's new creation The future is already shining in our world and, despite contradictions and suffering, the hope of new life. The Church's mission is to "infect" the hope of all peoples. This is why Christ calls, justifies, sanctifies and sends his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, so that all nations may become the People of God is only in this mission that we understand the true and authentic journey of humanity. The universal mission should become a fundamental constant the life of the Church. Proclaiming the Gospel must be for us, as the Apostle Paul, a primary and unavoidable duty .
2.
pilgrim Church The universal Church, without borders and boundaries, he feels responsible for announcing the Gospel in front of entire peoples (cf. Evangelii nuntiandi , 53). It is a seed of hope for a vocation, must continue the service of Christ in the world. Its mission and its service is not measuring the material or even spiritual needs that are exhausted in the framework of temporal existence, but a transcendent salvation, fulfilled in the Kingdom of God (cf. Evangelii nuntiandi , 27). This Kingdom, although in its eschatological and not of this world (cf. Jn 18.36), is also in this world and its history a force for justice, peace, true freedom and respect the dignity of every person. The Church seeks to transform the world through the proclamation of the Gospel of love, "that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage to live and work e. .. in this way to let in the light of God in the world "(Deus Caritas Est , 39). It is in this mission and service, even with this message, I call on all participating States and institutions of the Church.
3. Missio ad gentes
The mission of the Church, therefore, is to call all peoples to salvation by God through his incarnate Son. It is therefore necessary to renew our commitment to proclaiming the Gospel, which is the leaven of freedom and progress, brotherhood, unity and peace (cf. Ad Gentes , 8). I want to "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 make it even more urgent. At stake is the eternal salvation of persons, the goal and the fulfillment of human history and the universe. Animated and inspired by the people, we must realize that God has many people in all the cities visited by the apostles of today (cf. Acts 18:10). In fact, "the promise is for all who are far off, the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2.39).
The whole Church must undertake in the missio ad gentes , until the saving sovereignty of Christ is not fully realized: "At present we do not see that everything is still subject to him" (Heb 2.8) .
4. Called to evangelize even through martyrdom
On this day dedicated to the missions, I remember in prayer those who have made their lives a unique dedication to the work of evangelization. A special mention is the local Churches, and for those missionaries who are to witness and spread the Kingdom of God in situations of persecution, with forms of oppression ranging from social discrimination to prison, torture and death. Not a few are that are put to death because of its "Name". It is still of tremendous relevance as my venerable Predecessor, Pope John Paul II: "The Jubilee remembrance us has a surprising, showing us that our time is particularly prolific in witnesses, who in one way or another, were able to live the Gospel in the midst of hostility and persecution, often to give the supreme proof of the blood "( Novo Millennium Ineunte, 41).
Participation in the mission of Christ, is also granted to those who preach the Gospel, which is reserved the same fate as their Master. "Remember the word that I said: A servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you "( Jn 15:20). The Church is the same path and suffers the same experience of Christ, why does not act according to human logic or relying on her strength, but by following the way of the Cross, becoming, in filial obedience to the Father, the witness and traveling companion of humankind.
Churches of ancient foundation to those of recent memory that are set 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 mission ad gentes must be a priority of their pastoral plans.
to the Pontifical Missionary extend my thanks and encouragement for the indispensable service of entertainment, education and economic assistance to the young missionary Churches. Through these institutions papal admirably achieved communion between the Churches, the exchange of gifts, mutual concern and shared missionary.
5. Conclusion
missionary drive has always been a sign of the vitality of our churches (cf. Redemptoris Missio , 2). You must, however, reaffirm that evangelization is the work of the Spirit, and that even before action is to witness and reflection of light of Christ (cf. Redemptoris Missio , 26) by the local Church, which sends missionaries and missionaries to go beyond its borders. I therefore call on all Catholics pray the Holy Spirit in the Church because it increases the passion for the mission to spread the Kingdom of God and to support missionaries, the missionaries and Christian communities engaged in the forefront of this mission, sometimes in hostile environments of persecution.
Invitation, at the same time, all as a credible sign of communion between the Churches, with economic aid, especially during the crisis facing humanity, to enable the young local churches in a position to enlighten the people with the Gospel of charity.
guides us in our missionary activity by the Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, which gave the world the Christ, since light of the nations, to carry salvation "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13.47).
To all my blessing.
From the Vatican, June 29, 2009
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
[© Copyright 2009 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana]
