蜜桃交友

By Pope

1 October is the feast day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, affectionately known as 鈥淭he Little Flower鈥�. Although she never left her Carmelite cloister, she is the universal patron of missions, along with Saint Francis Xavier.

Three missionary models

Pope Francis recalled both of them in his homily. Saint Therese, he said, 鈥渕ade prayer the fuel for missionary activity in the world鈥�. Saint Francis Xavier, said the Pope, is perhaps 鈥渢he greatest missionary of all time, after Saint Paul鈥�.

Together with the Venerable Pauline Jaricot, a French laywoman who helped create the foundations of the Pontifical Missionary Societies, they 鈥済ive us a jolt鈥�, said the Pope. They challenge us to 鈥渆merge from our shell and to renounce our comforts for the sake of the Gospel鈥�.

Using our talents

Pope Francis began by reflecting on Saint Matthew鈥檚 Gospel that recounts the parable of the talents. 鈥淕od has entrusted us with his greatest treasures: our own lives and the lives of others鈥�, he said. God calls us 鈥渢o make our talents bear fruit, with boldness and creativity鈥�.

This extraordinary Missionary Month, said the Pope, 鈥渟hould jolt us and motivate us to be active in doing good. Not to be notaries of faith and guardians of grace, but missionaries鈥�.

Being a witness

Being a missionary, said Pope Francis, means 鈥渓iving as witnesses鈥�. Witness, in fact, 鈥渋s the key word: a word with the same root as the word 鈥榤artyr鈥欌��. 鈥淢artyrs live by spreading peace and joy, by loving everyone, even their enemies, out of love for Jesus鈥�, continued the Pope. 鈥淟et us ask ourselves this month: how good a witness am I?鈥�

Mission not omission

Returning to the parable, the Pope noted how Jesus describes the fearful servant as 鈥渨icked and lazy鈥�. He was wicked, said Pope Francis, for not doing good: 鈥渉e sinned by omission鈥�.  鈥淭o live by omission is to deny our vocation: omission is the opposite of mission鈥�.

Sins against mission

We sin against mission, said the Pope, when we fail to spread joy, 鈥渨hen we think of ourselves as victims, that no one loves or understands us鈥�.  We sin against mission 鈥渨hen we yield to resignation鈥�, or when we complain 鈥渢hat everything is going from bad to worse, in the world and in the Church鈥�. We sin against mission 鈥渨hen we become slaves to the fears that immobilize us鈥�, or when we live life as a burden and not a gift, putting ourselves at the centre, 鈥渁nd not our brothers and sisters who are waiting to be loved鈥�.

A Church on the go

If the Church 鈥渋s not on the go, it is not Church鈥�, stated Pope Francis. A Church on the go is a missionary Church 鈥渢hat does not waste time lamenting things that go wrong鈥� a Church that does not seek safe oases to dwell in peace, but longs to be salt of the earth and a leaven in the world鈥�. 

We are all missionaries

Today we begin the Missionary Month of October, said the Pope, 鈥渁ccompanied by a religious woman, a priest and a lay woman. They remind us that no one is excluded from the Church鈥檚 mission鈥�.

The Lord is calling you

In this month, said Pope Francis, 鈥渢he Lord is also calling you鈥�, fathers and mothers of families, young people. 鈥淵ou, who work in a factory, a store, a bank or a restaurant; you who are unemployed; you are in a hospital bed鈥� The Lord is asking you to be a gift wherever you are, and just as you are, with everyone around you鈥�. 

The Lord is asking you 鈥渘ot simply to go through life, but to give life鈥�, said the Pope, 鈥渘ot to complain about life, but to share in the tears of all who suffer鈥�.

鈥淭he Lord will not leave you alone in bearing witness鈥�, concluded Pope Francis. 鈥淵ou will discover that the Holy Spirit has gone before you and prepared the way for you. Courage!鈥�