The “ministry of
evangelisation is fascinating and demanding”.
In an age in which the
“rich and prosperous” First World is “uncertain about its future,” and
emerging nations see “the light of hope dim”, every baptised Christian
must be involved in this mission. Christians “must not be afraid” even
though “they are the religious group that suffers the most persecution
because of their faith”.
In his speech to the participants of the General
Assembly of the Pontifical Missions Society, Benedict XVI reiterated the duty of the entire Church of proclaiming the Gospel, which “is
part of life itself, as it was for Jesus” because “the Church is
mission”.
“New problems and servitudes have emerged in our
times, in both the so-called first world, rich and prosperous, yet
uncertain about is future, and in emerging nations where, owing to
profit-driven globalisation, the masses of the poor, the emigrants and
the oppressed grow, whilst the light of hope dims. The Church must
constantly renew its commitment to bring Christ [to the world], extend
his messianic mission, for the advent of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom
of justice, peace, freedom and love. Transforming the world according to
God’s plans with the revolutionary force of the Gospel, “so that God
may be in all” (1Cor, 15:28), is the task of the entire People of
God. It is therefore necessary to continue with renewed enthusiasm the
work of evangelisation, joyfully proclaim the Kingdom of God, which has
come in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, to lead men towards
the true freedom of the children of God against every form of slavery.
It is necessary to throw the Gospel’s nets into the sea of history to
bring men towards the land of God.”
The “mission of proclaiming the word of God is the task of all of the disciples of Jesus Christ based on their Baptism” (Esort. ap. Verbum Domini,
94). However, for a strong commitment to evangelisation be made, it is
necessary that individual Christians as a community truly believe that
“the word of God is the saving truth which men and women in every age
need to hear” (ibid, 95). If the conviction of faith is not deeply
rooted in our life, we cannot feel the passion and beauty of proclaiming
it. In reality, each Christian must feel the urgency of building the
Kingdom of God. Everything in the Church is at the service of
evangelisation in every sector of activity, which every person in his or
her various tasks is called to perform. Everyone must be involved in
the missio ad gentes: bishops, presbyters, men and women religious as well as lay people.
The fundamental condition of the proclamation,
Benedict XVI said, “is to let oneself be completely seized by Christ.
Only if we are deeply rooted in Christ and his Word are we capable of
not giving in to the temptation of reducing evangelisation to a human
and social project, hiding or silencing the transcendental dimension of
the salvation God offers in Christ. It is a Word that must be witnessed
and proclaimed explicitly because without a coherent witness, it appears
less comprehensible and credible. Although we often feel inadequate,
poor and incapable, we must always retain confidence in the power of
God, who puts his treasure in ‘jars of clay’ so that it is He who to act
through us.
The ministry of evangelisation is fascinating and
demanding. It requires loves for the proclamation and witness, a love so
total that it can also bring about martyrdom. The Church cannot falter
in its mission to bring the light of Christ and proclaim the Good News
of the Gospel, even if that entails persecution (cf Esort. ap. Verbum Domini,
95). It is part of life itself, as it was for Jesus. Christians must
not fear, even though they ‘are the religious group which suffers most
from persecution on account of its faith’ (Message for World Day of Peace 2011,
1). Saint Paul said, “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom, 8:38-39).