The Joy Of Announcing The Gospel

Pope Francis Sermon – The Joy That Comes With Proclaiming The Gospel

This is an English translation of the sermon given by His Holiness, Pope Francis, at yesterday’s (Sunday 07 July, 2013) celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

Hello dear Sisters and Brothers.

Of all I would such as to share with you the delight of having actually complied with, yesterday and today, a special team of pilgrims of the Year of Faith. It was made up of seminarians and amateurs. I ask you to pray for them that the love for Christ expand increasingly more in their life and they become true missionaries of the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel of this Sunday (Luke 10:1 -12, 17-20) speaks to us specifically of this: the truth that Jesus is not an isolated missionary, he does not wish to carry out his goal alone, however involves his disciples. And today we see that, besides the 12 disciples, he calls another 72, and he sends them to the towns, 2 by 2, to reveal that the Kingdom of God is near.

This is so lovely! Jesus does not wish to work alone, he has actually concerned bring God’s love into the world and wishes to spread it in communion (“con lo stile della comunione”), in fraternity (“con lo stile della fraternità“). Because of this he instantly forms an area of disciples, which is a missionary community. Instantly he instructs them to be missionaries, to head out.

Look, the purpose below is not to interact, to spend time together, no, the function is to reveal the Kingdom of God, and this is urgent! And it is urgent today too! There is no time to lose with small talk, we do have to wait for everybody to agree, we need to head out and reveal. The peace of Christ is offered everyone, and if they do decline it, we go forward just the same. Recovery is given the ill since God wishes to recover man of every evil. There are numerous missionaries that do this! They sow life, wellness, comfort at the margins of the world. How stunning this is! They do not live for themselves but to go out and do excellent! There are numerous youths in the piazza today: consider this, ask yourselves: Is Jesus asking me to head out, to leave myself behind and do excellent? I ask you, young people, you boys and women: Are you brave enough for this, do you have the nerve to pay attention to Jesus’ voice? It is lovely to missionaries! … Ah, you’re great! I like this!

These 72 disciples that Jesus sent ahead of him, who are they? Who do they stand for? If the 12 are the Apostles, therefore likewise stand for the Bishops, their successors, these 72 might stand for the various other ordained ministries, priests and deacons; but in a larger sense of the other ministries of the Church, of the catechists, of the lay faithful that work in parish goals, who deal with the sick, with those who are disadvantaged and marginalized; however always as missionaries of the Gospel, with the urgency of the Kingdom that is near. Everyone has to be missionaries, everybody can hear that call of Jesus and go out and reveal the Kingdom!

The Gospel says that those 72 returned from their objectives filled with joy, because they experienced the power of the Name of Christ against evil. Jesus verifies it: to these disciples Jesus provides the power to conquer demons. But he includes: “Do not rejoice, nonetheless, due to the fact that the daimons submit to you; rejoice rather due to the fact that your names are written in paradise” (Luke10:20). Do not include as if we were the protagonists: there is only one protagonist: it is the Lord! The Lord’s grace is the hero! He is the only protagonist! And this alone is our delight: to be his disciples, his friends. May Our Lady help us to be excellent workers for the Gospel.

Dear friends, happiness! Do not hesitate to be joyful! Do not be afraid of happiness! That joy that the Lord gives us when we let him into our life, let us enable him to enter in our life and welcome us to go out of ourselves to the margins of life and announce the Gospel. Do not be afraid of joy. Happiness and courage!

[After the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis added the following:] Dear brothers and sisters,.

As you understand, 2 days ago the encyclical letter on the subject of faith was released with the title “Lumen fidei,” the light of faith. Pope Benedict XVI started this encyclical for the Year of Faith. It follows his encyclicals on charity and hope. I used up this fantastic labor and concluded it. I offer it with joy to the whole People of God: in fact, today all of us have to visit the essence of the Christian faith, to research it and bring it to bear on modern concerns. I think that this encyclical, at least in some components, can be useful also to those who look for God and the meaning of life. I put it in the hands of Mary, the ideal icon of faith, that it might bear that fruit that the Lord desires.

I offer my cordial greeting to all you, dear faithful of Rome and pilgrims. I greet in particular the youths of the Diocese of Rome who are preparing to leave for Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day. Dear young people, I too am preparing! Let us walk together toward this wonderful feast of faith; could Our Lady accompany us and we’ll see each other down there!

I welcome the Rosminian Sisters and the Francescane Angeline Sisters, who are conducting their basic chapters; and the leaders of the Community of Sant’Egidio who have come from different countries for the course of formation. A wish you all a good Sunday! Have a great lunch! Bye-bye!