The Pope and New Evangelization: The Word of God continues to grow and spread
Benedict XVI greets the participants at the meeting organised by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. In the contemporary world there is "closure and rejection", indifference and even hostility towards the Word of God, but there is always "good soil" that bears fruit. The new preachers must be men "who speak to God to speak of God."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Word of God continues to grow and spread," even though it often finds a land dominated by "closure and rejection, ways of thinking and living that are far from seeking God and truth”, said Benedict XVI at the conclusion of the meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, held in the Vatican today, chaired by Msgr. Salvatore Fisichella.
The pope himself explained that the new Council, which he established last year "is called to offer special help to the Church's mission, especially in those countries of ancient Christian tradition which seem to have become indifferent or even hostile to Word of God. "
"Modern man - said the pope is often confused and cannot find answers to many questions which trouble his mind in reference to the meaning of life and issues that arise in the depths of his heart”.. “Man cannot avoid these questions which touch on the very meaning of self and of reality, nor can he live in a single dimension. Instead, he often removes himself from the search for the essential meaning of life, while turning to things which give him fleeting happiness, a moment’s satisfaction, but which soon leaves him unhappy and unsatisfied".
Yet "the Word of God continues to grow and spread" primarily because "the power of the Word does not depend primarily on our action, our means, our 'doing', but on God, who hides his power under the signs of weakness, which is present in the gentle breeze of the morning (cf. 1 Kings 19:12), which is revealed in the wood of the Cross. "
Secondly, because the Word of God always falls in "good soil that receives and produces fruit (cf. Mt from 13.3 to 9). And the new preachers are part of this field that allows the Gospel to grow in abundance and to transform their lives and the lives of others. "
And finally, because "the proclamation of the Gospel has spread to the very ends of the world, and even in the midst of indifference, misunderstanding, persecution, many continue today to courageously open their hearts and minds to accept the invitation of Christ to meet Him and become his disciples. "
The new evangelists and those who accept Jesus "do not make noise, but are like the mustard seed that becomes a tree, the yeast that ferments the leaven, the grain of wheat that is broken to give rise to the ear of corn".
The Pope then offered an “outline" of the new evangelization: "The world today - he said - needs people who speak to God, to speak of God, we must always remember that Jesus did not redeem the world with beautiful words or by ostentatious means, but by his suffering and his death. The law of the grain of wheat that dies in the soil is still valid today, we can not give life to others, without giving our life, 'and whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it', says the Lord (Mark 8:35) ".
"Being evangelists - he concluded - is not a privilege but an obligation that comes from faith. To the question which the Lord addresses to all Christians: 'Whom shall I send and who will go for me?', Respond with the same courage and the same confidence of the Prophet: 'Behold, Lord, here I am send me' (Isaiah 6.8). "
The pope himself explained that the new Council, which he established last year "is called to offer special help to the Church's mission, especially in those countries of ancient Christian tradition which seem to have become indifferent or even hostile to Word of God. "
"Modern man - said the pope is often confused and cannot find answers to many questions which trouble his mind in reference to the meaning of life and issues that arise in the depths of his heart”.. “Man cannot avoid these questions which touch on the very meaning of self and of reality, nor can he live in a single dimension. Instead, he often removes himself from the search for the essential meaning of life, while turning to things which give him fleeting happiness, a moment’s satisfaction, but which soon leaves him unhappy and unsatisfied".
Yet "the Word of God continues to grow and spread" primarily because "the power of the Word does not depend primarily on our action, our means, our 'doing', but on God, who hides his power under the signs of weakness, which is present in the gentle breeze of the morning (cf. 1 Kings 19:12), which is revealed in the wood of the Cross. "
Secondly, because the Word of God always falls in "good soil that receives and produces fruit (cf. Mt from 13.3 to 9). And the new preachers are part of this field that allows the Gospel to grow in abundance and to transform their lives and the lives of others. "
And finally, because "the proclamation of the Gospel has spread to the very ends of the world, and even in the midst of indifference, misunderstanding, persecution, many continue today to courageously open their hearts and minds to accept the invitation of Christ to meet Him and become his disciples. "
The new evangelists and those who accept Jesus "do not make noise, but are like the mustard seed that becomes a tree, the yeast that ferments the leaven, the grain of wheat that is broken to give rise to the ear of corn".
The Pope then offered an “outline" of the new evangelization: "The world today - he said - needs people who speak to God, to speak of God, we must always remember that Jesus did not redeem the world with beautiful words or by ostentatious means, but by his suffering and his death. The law of the grain of wheat that dies in the soil is still valid today, we can not give life to others, without giving our life, 'and whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it', says the Lord (Mark 8:35) ".
"Being evangelists - he concluded - is not a privilege but an obligation that comes from faith. To the question which the Lord addresses to all Christians: 'Whom shall I send and who will go for me?', Respond with the same courage and the same confidence of the Prophet: 'Behold, Lord, here I am send me' (Isaiah 6.8). "
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