VATICAN - Pope Francis: "There is no Christian mission in the name of tranquility!"

Monday, 26 June 2017 pope francis   missionary animation   martyrs   persecutions  

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "There is no Christian mission in the name of tranquility! Difficulties and tribulations are part and package of evangelization", said the Holy Father before the Angelus prayer with the faithful and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square yesterday, Sunday, June 25. Taking inspiration from the Gospel of the Day (cf. Mt 10: 26-33), in which the Lord prepares the disciples to face the trials and persecutions they will encounter in their mission, the Pope emphasized that " To go on mission is not to engage in tourism" .
"Jesus’ sending the disciples on mission does not guarantee them success - the Pope explained - as it does not shelter them from failures and sufferings. They must take into account be it the possibility of rejection be it that of persecution. This is somewhat frightening, but it is the truth. The disciple is called to conform himself to Christ’s own life, who was persecuted by men, knew rejection, abandonment and death on the cross.... We must regard these difficulties as the possibility to be even more missionaries and to grow in that trust of God, our Father, who does not abandon His children in the hour of the storm. In the difficulties of Christian witness in the world, we are never forgotten, but always helped by the Father’s loving concern". The Holy Father continued: In our days also, persecution against Christians is present. We pray for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted and we praise God because, despite this, they continue to witness their faith with courage and fidelity. May their example help us to not hesitate in taking a position in favor of Christ, witnessing Him courageously in everyday situations, even in apparently tranquil contexts.... the Lord sends us as watchmen in the midst of people who do not want to be awakened from worldly torpor, who ignore the words of Truth of the Gospel, constructing their own ephemeral truths. And if we move and live in these contexts and say the Words of the Gospel, this annoys and we will not be looked at well. However, in all of this the Lord continues to say to us, as He said to the disciples of His time: “Have no fear!” (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 26/6/2017)


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