MISSIONARY INTENTION - The Holy Father's Missionary Intention for June 2010: “That the Churches in Asia, which constitute a 'little flock' among non-Christian populations, may know how to communicate the Gospel and give joyful witness to their adherence to Christ.” Commentary.

Monday, 31 May 2010

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The situation of Catholics in Asia is difficult. They are a minority living surrounded by millions of followers of other religions or people who claim not to profess any religion. From a human standpoint, it seems that there is nothing to be done to be able to evangelize the continent, given the disproportionate number of Catholics and the more than a billion people who do not know Christ in these lands. However, we must turn with hope to the Word of God. The Gospel tells of a small amount of yeast that leavens all the dough (cf. Mt 13, 33).
Since its birth, the Church has been in a situation of "minority," but has developed her evangelizing action relying on the "power from on high" (cf. Lk 24, 49), the Holy Spirit, confident in the words of Jesus: "I am with you always until the end of the world"(cf. Mt 20, 28).
In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI, speaking to the Central Asian Bishops on their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit, said: “You must not be discouraged, dear Brothers! Look at the first communities of the Lord's disciples. Although they were small they did not withdraw into themselves but, impelled by Christ's love, did not hesitate to shoulder the burdens of the poor and to meet the needs of the sick, joyfully proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel to all. Today too, as then, it is the Holy Spirit who leads the Church onwards” (Audience, October 2, 2008).
The witness of charity and joyful proclamation of the Gospel can change hearts. The Word of God is not chained (cf. 2 Tm 2, 9) and has the strength in itself to bring light to the hearts of many. The Church does not evangelize out of some sort of superiority complex towards other religions, nor does she proselytize. The work of evangelization is obedience to Christ's command, “in the knowledge that every person has the right to hear the Good News of the God who reveals and gives himself in Christ” (Ecclesia in Asia, 20).
We must always seek to find the most appropriate means for presenting the Word of God in the most appropriate manner, to the culture and mentality of the people we address, respecting freedom of conscience and religious freedom.
Faith is always a gift of God, the work of God. Thus, someone who encounters a joyful, confident, and convincing preaching of the Gospel, can “open himself to the faith after mature and responsible reflection and must be able to achieve this intimate inspiration freely. This is not only for the individual's benefit but indeed for that of the whole of society, for the faithful observance of the divine precepts is helpful in building a more just and supportive coexistence” (Benedict XVI, October 2, 2008).
In this month, we address the Virgin Mary with the words of the Pope, asking that She give strength to all those who, in China and throughout Asia, “amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus” (Benedict XVI, Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, May 15, 2008). (Agenzia Fides 31/05/2010)


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