During the Month of January, Catholicismanew.org will be featuring the best of the 2014 from Catholicismanew: This first appeared on January 28, 2014
My brothers and sisters, WYD did not end. Remember the phrase that the Pope spoke in the Homily of the Mass of Sending Out?
Pope Francis said: “God, without fear, to serve!”
What was your and my response to this sending? Will it be that I have to go to the peripheries? I have to promote the culture of the retreat? Have I been a Missionary Disciple?
I had the opportunity to be on mission in Nova Iguaçu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil joined with youth that develop a project called Youth Alive in the Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul. The project is a result of WYD 2013, that brings a beautiful dimension of prayer and action. Youth that heard the appeal of the Pope and do not remain with crossed arms, but have the courage and initiative of being Missionary Disciples.
With this, I go to evangelize, announcing the Gospel is greater than words. It is attitude and life! It is to leave comfort and to go to the encounter of many poor and needy, to go to hospitals, orphanages, to the sick, to prisons, to the existential peripheries…
My brothers and sisters be creative in the mission. It is not necessary to go to Africa or China to be a missionary. Be missionaries in your parish. Be missionary disciples in your neighborhood, in your street,, with your neighbor, with your colleague at work, school, or college.
One thing is certain: we cannot remain closed in Church. It is necessary to go out from churches to bring the Gospel to all the people. How many pastors in parishes need the youth. Enough of asking the priests. Youth go!
We cannot remain prisoners inside of youth prayer groups. These groups need to go out in the direction that is most needed. Leave comfort!
The book of Isaiah reveals this servant choice of you and me: “You are my servant Israel, in which I will be glorified […] (cf Is. 49:1) I will make you light to the nations, in order that my salvation may arrive at the ends of all the Earth.” (Is 49:6)
Go without fear, to serve!
Strong hug!
Canção Nova Community