|
WORD FOR MISSION Every week CIAM offers
to lay, religious people and priests an itinerary of reflections on the
Sunday Liturgy in a missionary prespective. These are elements for a
missionary meditation, individual or in community, on the Word of God ,
which constantly and surprisingly continues to enlighten, strengthen
and sustain the missionary journey of the Church, for the life of the
World
|
|
Love: from
Trinity to
Mission
Trinity Sunday Year B - 11.06.2005 Deuteronomy 4:32-34.39-40 Psalm 32 Romans 8:14-17 Matthew 28:16-20
Reflections Various catechisms, with a certain simplification, sum up the mystery of God by saying that There is only one God, in three Persons. True, this says it all, but it also leaves everything to be understood, accepted in love and adored in contemplation. The subject is vitally important on the mission front too. It is stated freely that all peoples, even the non-Christian ones, know that God exists, so that even the 'pagans' believe in God. This shared truth, even with certain differences and reservations, is the basis that makes dialogue between religions possible; especially the dialogue between Christians and the followers of other religions. On the basis of one God who is common to all, it is possible to work out an understanding among peoples, and can lead to concerted action for peace, defence and human rights, and for the carrying out of development projects. But this is only a part of the evangelising activity of the Church, which offers the world a Gospel that has much wider-ranging content and objectives.
It is not sufficient for a Christian to put everything on a One God basis. Even less so for a missionary who is aware of the extraordinary revelation received through Jesus Christ, a revelation that embraces the whole mystery of God, in His Oneness and Trinity. The God of Christians is One, but not Alone, solitary. The Gospel that the missionary takes to the world, besides strengthening and perfecting the understanding of Monotheism, opens the vista of the immense, surprising mystery of God, who is a communion of Persons.
To penetrate the mystery of God, Moslems have the Kor'an, from which they learn the 99 names of Allah; the hundredth cannot be spoken, because a man can never comprehend the whole of God. The Hebrews discover the Lord through the events of their salvation history, meditated on, written and read over and over again across the centuries, before being handed on, much later, in the holy books. For Christians the book that leads to the discovery of God is Jesus Christ. He is 'the book opened by lance-thrusts, he is the Son who, from the cross, reveals that God is Father, and the gift of Love, Life, Spirit (F. Armellini).
An anonymous writer has transmitted the following brief and basic dialogue between a Moslem and a Christian: - A Moslem said : For us, God is one; how could he have a Son? - A Christian answered: "For us, God is love; how could He be alone? This is a very "basic" interreligious dialogue. It reveals a fundamental truth about the Christian God that is able to enrich even the monotheism of Hebrews, Moslems and of other religions. In fact, the God revealed by Jesus is, above all, God-Love (see Jn.3L16; 1Jn.4:8). He is a single God, but with relationships, in a full communion of Persons. A God who gives himself for the life of the human family.
The God of non-Christian religions tends very often to be distant. He lives in his own world, so it becomes necessary to propitiate him, with religious practices and all kinds of sacrifices. Whereas the God of the Bible reveals Himself to us above all as a God of mercy and compassion, "rich in mercy" (Eph.2:4); a God who is a friend and protector, who loves living a relationship, a God who is close (1st. Reading), who acts at the side of his people with signs and wonders (v.34). He is not an envious God, competing with man, but a God who wants us to be happy, you and your children (v. 40). There is more: He is a God who associates us with himself, who calls us and makes us his children and heirs, giving us his Spirit (2nd Reading, v.6-17).
This is the true face of God that all nations (Gospel) have the right and the urgent need to learn from missionaries, according to the command of Jesus: Go, make disciples, baptise, teach... Thus the Council states: The pilgrim Church is missionary by its very nature since, according to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit (Ad Gentes 2). The gift of the true God, one and three (triune) is for all nations; it is a treasure that can enrich all cultures, and one which Christians have the right and duty to share with all others. To carry out this mission, Jesus committed himself of being the Emmanuel: Behold I am with you all the days that are coming" (v. 20). With this certainty the Church makes us pray today that we may be proclaimers of the Salvation that is offered to all peoples (Collect).
The Pope's words (*) If the truth of the Faith is placed, simply and decisively at the centre of Christian existence, the life of humanity is made robust and enlivened by a love that knows know pause or confines... Charity, from the heart of God through the heart of Jesus Christ, spreads around the world through the Spirit, as a love that renews everything. Benedict XVI Address to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 10.02.2006
In the steps of Missionaries - 11/6: St. Barnabas, Apostle, was one of the first converts in Jerusalem, a missionary in Antioch, a friend and collaborator of St. Paul. He evangelised Cyprus. - 11/6: Bl. Ignatius Maloyan (1869-1915), Bishop of Mardine of the Armenians and martyr. He was tortured and killed by the Turks at the start of the Armenian holocaust. - 12/6: Bl Mercedes Maria of Jesus Molina (1828-1883), an Ecuadorean nun, missionary among the Jibaros indios and foundress. She died at Riobamba (Ecuador). - 12/6: World Day against Child Labour, instituted by the United Nations (2002). - 13/6: St. Anthony of Padova (1195-1231), Franciscan priest, Doctor of the Church, effective evangeliser in France and Italy. - 15/6: Bl. Luigi Maria Palazzolo (1827-1886), preacher of parish missions, founder of the Poor Sisters for education, social assistance and mission. - 16/6: Bl. Maria Teresa Scherer (1825-1888), A Swiss nun, co-foundress of the Sisters of Charity of the Holy Cross, who spread rapidly.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Edited by Fr. Romeo Ballan, mcci - Former Director of CIAM, Rome Website: www.ciam.org Word for the Mission ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
