杏MAP导航: more than ever today the world needs the Good News of peace

The two disciples meeting Jesus ion the way to Emmaus

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis releases his message for World Mission Day 2023 and urges the faithful to join in bringing the Gospel to today鈥檚 broken world following the example of the disciples on the way to Emmaus.

By Lisa Zengarini

Looking ahead to the World Mission Day to be observed this year on 29 October, 杏MAP导航 Francis is calling on all Christians to join together in contributing to missionary efforts with their personal witness of the Gospel, heeding the example of the Disciples on the road to Emmaus.

The World Mission Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of October, and in 2023 will be focused on the theme 鈥淗earts on Fire, Feet on the Move鈥�, inspired by the story of the first appearance of Jesus to two of His Disciples, after His crucifixion and the discovery of the empty tomb, in the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35).

In his message for the occurrence released on Wednesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis dwells on three images in the Gospel episode, which he says 鈥渞eflect the journey of all missionary disciples鈥�.

The Risen Lord remains close to his missionary disciples with His Word

The first one is that of their bewilderment after the crucifixion, changing into their 鈥渉earts burning鈥� after they met the mysterious Wayfarer explaining to them what was said in the Scriptures about Him.

This story - 杏MAP导航 Francis writes - reminds us that the Risen Lord remains close to his missionary disciples, particularly when they feel "disoriented, discouraged, fearful of the mystery of iniquity that surrounds them", and that with His Word He transforms us, so that we can proclaim His mystery of Salvation.

Hence the importance in Christian life, says 杏MAP导航 Francis, of knowing the Scripture, 鈥渆ven more so for the preaching of Christ and his Gospel鈥�.

鈥淟et us always be willing to let ourselves be accompanied by the Risen Lord as he explains to us the meaning of the Scriptures. May he make our hearts burn within us; may he enlighten and transform us, so that we can proclaim his mystery of salvation to the world with the power and wisdom that come from his Spirit.鈥�

Remaining in communion with Jesus through the Eucharist

The second image recalled in the message is that of the disciples 鈥渙pening their eyes鈥� when Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, brakes it and gives it to them.

鈥淗ere 鈥� the 杏MAP导航 notes - we can recognize an essential reality of our faith: Christ, who breaks the bread, now becomes the bread broken, shared with the disciples and consumed by them.鈥�

鈥淓very missionary disciple is called to become, like Jesus and in Him, through the working of the Holy Spirit, one who breaks the bread and one who is broken bread for the world.鈥�

Reminding the faithful that 鈥渂reaking our material bread with the hungry in the name of Christ is already a work of Christian mission鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis stresses that more so 鈥渋s the breaking of the Eucharistic bread, which is Christ himself, a work of mission par excellence, since the Eucharist is the source and summit of the life and mission of the Church.鈥�

鈥淚n order to bear fruit - he continues - we must remain united to Jesus 鈥渢hrough daily prayer, particularly in Eucharistic adoration, as we remain in silence in the presence of the Lord, who remains with us in the Blessed Sacrament鈥�.

鈥淸 By lovingly cultivating this communion with Christ, the missionary disciple can become a mystic in action. May our hearts always yearn for the company of Jesus, echoing the ardent plea of the two disciples of Emmaus, especially in the evening hours: 鈥淪tay with us, Lord!]鈥�

The joy of telling others about the Risen Christ

The third image recalled by 杏MAP导航 Francis is that of the disciples setting out on the way, 鈥渨ith the joy of telling others about the Risen Christ鈥�. 鈥淭his setting out in haste to share with others the joy of meeting the Lord 鈥� the 杏MAP导航 notes - demonstrates that the joy of the Gospel fills the heart and the whole life of those who meet Jesus. One cannot truly encounter the Risen Jesus without being set on fire with enthusiasm to tell everyone about Him鈥�, he stresses.

Our broken world needs the Good News of peace and salvation in Christ

Hence the duty of every Christian to announce the Gospel to our broken world 鈥渨ithout excluding anyone, not as one who imposes a new obligation, but as one who shares a joy, signals a beautiful horizon, offers a desirable banquet鈥�.

鈥淭he image of 鈥渇eet setting out鈥� reminds us once more of the perennial validity of the missio ad gentes, the mission entrusted to the Church by the risen Lord to evangelize all individuals and peoples, even to the ends of the earth. Today more than ever, our human family, wounded by so many situations of injustice, so many divisions and wars, is in need of the Good News of peace and salvation in Christ.鈥�

An ever closer missionary cooperation

Bringing his message to a close, 杏MAP导航 Francis points out that all of us 鈥渃an contribute to this missionary movement with our prayers and activities, with material offerings and the offering of our sufferings, and with our personal witness鈥�.

This calls for 鈥渁n ever closer missionary cooperation鈥� on the part of all members of the Church at every level, which - he says - is 鈥渁n essential goal of the synodal journey that the Church has undertaken, guided by the key words: communion, participation, mission鈥� .

鈥淟et us set out to make other hearts burn with the word of God, to open the eyes of others to Jesus in the Eucharist, and to invite everyone to walk together on the path of peace and salvation that God, in Christ, has bestowed upon all humanity鈥�, the message concludes

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