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What will you do today to spread the Gospel to those around you? A call to action for each of us . . . Pope John Paul II's recent pastoral letter, "At the Beginning of the New Millennium" or "Novo Milennio Ineunte," echoes Jesus' call for laborers in the harvest. In this letter, the Pope urges believers to "'put out into the deep' for a catch" of souls. That call is for each of us! Let's take the following words to heart and join Jesus as laborers in the harvest: "Over the years, I have often repeated the summons to the new evangelization. I do so again now, especially in order to insist that we must rekindle in ourselves the impetus of the beginnings and allow ourselves to be filled with the ardor of the apostolic preaching which followed Pentecost. We must revive in ourselves the burning conviction of Paul, who cried out, 'Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel' (1 Corinthians 9:16). "This passion will not fail to stir in the church a new sense of mission, which cannot be left to a group of 'specialists' but must involve the responsibility of all the members of the people of God. Those who have come into genuine contact with Christ cannot keep him for themselves; they must proclaim him. A new apostolic outreach is needed, which will be lived as the everyday commitment of Christian communities and groups. "Christ must be presented to all people with confidence.
We shall address adults, families, young people, children,
without ever hiding the most radical demands of the gospel
message, but taking into account each person's needs in
regard to their sensitivity and language, after the example
of Paul who declared: 'I have become all things to all
people, that I might by all means save some' (1 Corinthians
9:22)." Jesus, stir in the hearts of all Christians your passion and love for souls. With the help of your Spirit I want to sail into the deep waters and work to bring you those who have not yet responded to your love. |
