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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus
Message
On Being Missionaries of Christ
"In God's Field There Is Work for Everyone"
H.H. Benedict XVI
July 8, 2007
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today the Gospel (cf. Luke 10:1-12,17-20) presents Jesus sending out
72 disciples to the villages where he is about to arrive so that
they will prepare the way.
This is unique to the evangelist Luke, who emphasizes that the
mission is not reserved to the Twelve Apostles, but is extended to
other disciples. In fact, Jesus says that "the harvest is plentiful
but the laborers are few" (Luke 10:2).
In God's field there is work for everyone. But Christ does not limit
himself to sending out. He also gives the disciples clear and
precise rules of conduct.
First of all he sends them out "two by two," so that they help each
other and give an example of fraternal love. He notes that they will
be "like lambs among wolves" -- despite everything they must be
peaceful and in every situation bring a message of peace; they will
not take clothes or money with them, so as to live by what
Providence offers them; they will care for the sick, as a sign of
God's mercy; where they are rejected, they will leave, limiting
themselves to warning those who reject them that they are
responsible for rejecting the kingdom of God.
St. Luke highlights the enthusiasm of the disciples over the good
fruits of the mission, and records this beautiful expression of
Jesus: "Do not rejoice because the demons are subject to you, but
rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). This
Gospel reawakens in all the baptized the awareness of being
missionaries of Christ, called to prepare the way for him with words
and with the testimony of their lives.
Tomorrow I leave for Lorenzago di Cadore, where I will be the guest
of the bishop of Treviso, in the house where the venerable John Paul
II was already welcomed. The mountain air will be good for me and I
will be able to dedicate myself more freely to reflection and
prayer.
I wish all of you, especially those most in need, the possibility of
taking a little vacation to reinvigorate your physical and spiritual
energies and recover a salutary contact with nature. The mountains,
in particular, evoke the upward ascent of the spirit, the elevation
toward the "high measure" of our humanity, which daily life
unfortunately tends to abase.
In this connection I would like to recall the fifth Pilgrimage of
Young People to the Cross of Adamello, where twice the Holy Father
John Paul II went. The pilgrimage took place recently and a short
while ago culminated in the Holy Mass celebrated at a height of
3,000 meters. In greeting the archbishop of Trent and the general
secretary of the Italian bishops' conference, as well as the
government officials of Trent, I also renew my appointment with all
Italian young people for two days at Loreto, Sept. 1-2.
May the Virgin Mary always protect us, whether on mission or in just
repose, so that we carry out our task with joy and with fruit in the
vineyard of the Lord.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in six
languages. In English, he said:]
I warmly welcome the English-speaking pilgrims present at this
Angelus. In a special way I am pleased to greet those taking part in
the "Interamnia World Cup," handball tournament in Teramo, Italy.
The participants in this event come from more than a hundred
different Countries, some of which are in conflict with each other.
Yet this peaceful gathering of athletes is an example of how sports
can bring us together in the spirit of fellowship between peoples
and cultures. Sports are indeed a sign that peace is possible.
In today's Gospel we are reminded that the harvest is plenty but the
labourers are few. Let us all pray that the Lord of the Harvest will
continue to bless his Church with confident and generous workers. I
thank you for your prayerful presence, and I invoke the abundant
blessings of Almighty God upon you and your families.
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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