杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� catechesis during the Sunday Angelus focused on the reading from the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus says, 鈥淭he one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet鈥檚 reward鈥� (Mt 10:41).

Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Square, the 杏MAP导航 reflected on the need to welcome the prophets of today.

鈥淓ach one of us, brothers and sisters, is a prophet,鈥� he said, noting that with Baptism, all of us received the gift of the prophetic mission.

We are all prophets

The Holy Father went on to explain that a prophet is the one who helps others read the present under the action of the Holy Spirit, helping them 鈥渢o understand God鈥檚 plans and correspond to them.鈥�

鈥淲e are all prophets,鈥� he continued, witnesses of Jesus, loving signs who point God out to others, a reflection of Christ鈥檚 light on the path of the brothers and sisters.鈥�

He invited believers to ask themselves whether they live as witnesses of Jesus, bringing a little bit of His light into the life of another person.

鈥淒o I evaluate myself on this? I ask myself: What is my bearing witness like, my prophecy?鈥� he said.

Listen to everybody

The Holy Father went on to note that in the Gospel, the Lord asks to welcome the prophets.

鈥淚t is important to welcome each other as such, as bearers of God鈥檚 message, each one according to his state and vocation,鈥� he said.

This is something to be done where we live, he explained, in the family, in the parish, in the religious community, in other places in the Church and in society.

And observing that the Spirit 鈥渉as distributed gifts of prophecy in the holy People of God.鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淭his is why it is good to listen to everyone.鈥�

鈥淔or example, when an important decision needs to be made, it is good to pray first of all, call on the Spirit, but then listen and dialogue trusting that each person, even the littlest, has something important to say, a prophetic gift to share,鈥� he said.

He concluded inviting Christians to make people feel welcome, 鈥渘ot because they say what pleases us, but so they feel accepted and valued as the gifts they are.鈥�