To reflect together on the Holy Father’s message, we have included an excerpt from his words.
You can find the full message at this link:
Today marks the 100th World Mission Day. This year’s theme is “One in Christ, United in Mission.”
The Holy Father invites us to draw inspiration to renew within ourselves the fire of our missionary vocation and to move forward in our commitment during this “new missionary era.” From a life lived in union, he adds, mutual communion and all missionary fruitfulness spring forth. The Church’s primary missionary responsibility is to renew and keep alive the spiritual and fraternal unity among its members. Being united in mission, Pope Leo specifies, means safeguarding and nurturing the spirituality of communion and missionary collaboration.
Missionary unity should be understood as the convergence of different charisms toward the same goal: making Christ’s love visible and inviting everyone to encounter Him.
Unity, he goes on to clarify, is the condition of the mission, while love is its substance. Missionaries, through their perseverance, demonstrate that God’s love is stronger than any barrier.
The mission of the disciples and of the entire Church is the continuation, in the Holy Spirit, of Christ’s mission.
Every gift thus becomes a meaningful act of missionary communion.
The Holy Father wished to convey three important messages for this day:
1. Being one in Christ means being missionary disciples united in Him and with our brothers and sisters.
2. Unity in mission is essential so that the world may believe in Christ the Lord.
3. The mission of love means proclaiming, living, and sharing God’s faithful love.
COMMENTS