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| ASCENSION OF THE LORD. Image via google.com |
He said
to them,
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Every Christian is a missionary: we are all being sent to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This is the so-called Mission Ad Gentes, and in the Preface of the Decree bearing this title it is stated,
'Divinely sent to the nations of the world to be unto them "a universal sacrament of salvation," the Church, driven by the inner necessity of her own catholicity, and obeying the mandate of her Founder [cf Mark 16:16], strives ever to proclaim the Gospel to all men. The Apostles themselves, on whom the Church was founded, following in the steps of Christ, "preached the word of truth and begot churches." It is the duty of their successors to make this task endure "so that the word of God may run and be glorified [2 Thessalonians 3:1] and the kingdom of God be proclaimed and established throughout the world.'
In relation to this general mission upon the shoulders of every Christian, we who respond to the call to divine friendship in accordance with John 15: 12-17 also have that special mission to proclaim the Gospel of Holy Friendship so that we may be able to make friends of all nations in the name of and for the Jesus Christ, our Lord, God and Friend.
It is also stated in the Gospel that the harvest is rich but the workers are few [see Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37] and that the people are like sheep who need shepherds [see Mark 6:34; Matthew 9:36]. The present generation badly needs the Lord of Holy Friendship for it is being led to places and ideas that are inconsistent with Gospel values and human dignity. We need to make them realize that God is a true friend, someone who is ever concerned about the welfare of man and not somebody who requires blind obedience. And by our love for one another, we surely can show them the goodness and holiness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and our being followers and friends of the Lord of Holy Friendship [see also John 13: 34-35].
The Holy Friendship is both a gift and a call. It is a gift because God freely gave it to us; we didn't deserve it but He wanted to make us His friends. It is a call because we are being sent to proclaim it to others; we cannot just keep His friendship within our hearts - we have to proclaim and share it! This is necessary so that there may be more people who may believe and if possible, no one to be condemned. It would be uncharitable to disregard every opportunity to lead people to the Father for He does not want anyone to be lost [see Matthew 18:14; also John 3:16; 6:39].
In this Feast of St Mark the Evangelist, let us pray for the Holy Spirit's inspiration that we may boldly proclaim the Lord's Holy Friendship so that we may lead many to the Father's house.
'Divinely sent to the nations of the world to be unto them "a universal sacrament of salvation," the Church, driven by the inner necessity of her own catholicity, and obeying the mandate of her Founder [cf Mark 16:16], strives ever to proclaim the Gospel to all men. The Apostles themselves, on whom the Church was founded, following in the steps of Christ, "preached the word of truth and begot churches." It is the duty of their successors to make this task endure "so that the word of God may run and be glorified [2 Thessalonians 3:1] and the kingdom of God be proclaimed and established throughout the world.'
In relation to this general mission upon the shoulders of every Christian, we who respond to the call to divine friendship in accordance with John 15: 12-17 also have that special mission to proclaim the Gospel of Holy Friendship so that we may be able to make friends of all nations in the name of and for the Jesus Christ, our Lord, God and Friend.
It is also stated in the Gospel that the harvest is rich but the workers are few [see Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37] and that the people are like sheep who need shepherds [see Mark 6:34; Matthew 9:36]. The present generation badly needs the Lord of Holy Friendship for it is being led to places and ideas that are inconsistent with Gospel values and human dignity. We need to make them realize that God is a true friend, someone who is ever concerned about the welfare of man and not somebody who requires blind obedience. And by our love for one another, we surely can show them the goodness and holiness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and our being followers and friends of the Lord of Holy Friendship [see also John 13: 34-35].
The Holy Friendship is both a gift and a call. It is a gift because God freely gave it to us; we didn't deserve it but He wanted to make us His friends. It is a call because we are being sent to proclaim it to others; we cannot just keep His friendship within our hearts - we have to proclaim and share it! This is necessary so that there may be more people who may believe and if possible, no one to be condemned. It would be uncharitable to disregard every opportunity to lead people to the Father for He does not want anyone to be lost [see Matthew 18:14; also John 3:16; 6:39].
In this Feast of St Mark the Evangelist, let us pray for the Holy Spirit's inspiration that we may boldly proclaim the Lord's Holy Friendship so that we may lead many to the Father's house.
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