杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

A Christian is a missionary who, urged forward by the Holy Spirit, lives his or her Baptism as yeast in society, spreading the message of Jesus. 

This is the heart of a brief video message that 杏MAP导航 Francis sent to the participants a 3-day National Missionary Congress, organized by Indonesia鈥檚 Catholic Church. 

"Baptized and Sent"

The August 1 to 4 conference, being held at the Mercure Convention Center,  Ancol, in Jakarta, has as its theme, "Baptized and Sent".

Speaking in Italian, the 杏MAP导航 exhorts the Congress participants to reflect well on the theme.  鈥淲hen we are baptized, we receive the Holy Spirit, who is a treasure; we receive the message of Jesus, the Gospel within us,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 says in the video message that was projected during the opening ceremony. 

The 杏MAP导航 draws attention to the two words of the theme, 鈥淏aptized and Sent鈥�.  鈥淲hen you have a beautiful thing and are enthusiastic about it,鈥� he says, 鈥測ou feel the impetus to share it and give it to others.鈥�  鈥淏aptized and Sent鈥�, he says, are the two things that must be the leitmotif of the Congress.

Yeast

He asks how a Christian lives his or her Baptism, not only in personal life but also as 鈥測east, social leaven in society, to carry forward this message of Jesus.鈥�

Walking forward 鈥� urged by the Spirit

The Argentine 杏MAP导航 reminds the congress participants that a Christian always walks forward.  According to the Bible, he explains, 鈥渨e are not people who go backwards鈥�; 鈥渨e are people who go forward, always.鈥�

鈥淲hen one goes back,鈥� he stresses, 鈥渙ne is not a Christian.鈥�

When a Christian goes forward, he points out, he or she is 鈥渟ent鈥�.  "It is the Holy Spirit that impels me to go forward鈥�.

鈥淪o, take courage, go forward, always forward: baptized and sent,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 urges and asks them to pray to our Lady that she may protect them and help them forge ahead.

杏MAP导航 Francis also asks the Congress participants to pray for him and concludes imparting his blessing on them.