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28th Missionary Day

I make a special and urgent appeal to all the baptized, that with humble courage, responding to the Lord's call and the needs of the men and women of our time, they may become heralds of the Gospel… In the name of the Church I thank them and encourage them to persevere in their generosity. God will reward them abundantly.

Everyone is called to collaborate, starting from their own life situation. In this time of grace and mercy, I feel especially that it is necessary to commit all ecclesial forces to the new evangelization and to the mission.“ad gentes“No believer, no institution of the Church can shirk the supreme duty of proclaiming Christ to all peoples. No one can feel exempt from offering their collaboration to the development of Christ’s mission, which continues in the Church. Indeed, Jesus“ invitation is more relevant than ever: ”Go also into my vineyard” (Mt 20, 7).

In this endeavor, the Christian is not alone. It is true that there is no proportion between human strength and the greatness of the mission. The most common and authentic experience is not feeling worthy of this task. But it is also true that “our ability comes from God. It is He who has made us capable of being ministers of a new covenant” (2 Color 3, 5b-6a). The Lord does not abandon those whom He calls to His service. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt (28, 18-20). The Lord's continuous presence in his Church, especially in the Word and the Sacraments, is a guarantee for the effectiveness of its mission. This mission is carried out today through men and women who have experienced salvation in their own fragility and weakness and who bear witness to it to their brothers and sisters, aware that we are all called to the same fullness of life.

Those who have experienced the joy of encountering Christ cannot keep it locked within themselves; they must radiate it… Furthermore, we must be deeply convinced of the fact that evangelization also constitutes an excellent service rendered to humanity, since it prepares it to carry out God's plan, which desires to unite all people to Himself, making them a people of brothers and sisters freed from injustice and animated by feelings of genuine solidarity.

(St. John Paul II, message of the year 2000)