VATICAN – Pope Francis: It is not possible to be sad for those who proclaim the Gospel.
Rome (Agenzia Fides). – The proclamation, or the Gospel, of the salvation promised Jesus has distinct characteristics, almost “genetic connotations”, that make it uncomparable to any proclamation or program of religious, moral, or political messages. Pope Francis described at least five of these in today’s General Audience on Wednesday, January 25, 25th, during the third meeting of the new cycle dedicated to passion for evangelization.
The first “identifying characteristic” that connects followers of Jesus as “Masters of the Proclamation”, Pope Francis began by recalling the Gospel passage about Christ’s preaching at the synagogue, Nazareth, which was read at the beginning the General Audience. It is the joy. The word Gospel means good news, and “Bearing witness to Jesus, doing something for others in His name, to have received “between the lines” of one’s life, so beautiful a gift that no words suffice to express it”. “When joy is lacking, the Gospel doesn’t come through” and “A sad Christian can talk of beautiful things, but it is worthless if the news he relays isn’t joyful.”
The second distinguishing characteristic that always accompanys the proclamation or the Gospel is the promise of deliverance. Jesus Himself said that He was sent to free captives. The Gospel of Christ is not to be preached, but it must be preached. Although following Jesus will not be easy, it will be a difficult and painful journey. But those who witness to Christ see the beauty in the destination rather than the pain of the journey.
The third aspect that marks the proclamation of the Gospel was referred to by the Pope as the connotation of light: “Jesus”, the Successor of Peter recalled, says He came to bring “sight to the blind”.” It is striking how, in all of the Bible, the healing and restoration of sight to blind men has never occurred before Christ. It was a sign that the Messiah would bring it about. It’s not about physical sight, the Pontiff said, “but a light that makes it possible to see the new world and life in a new way.” There is a “coming into the light,” a rebirth that happens only with Jesus”. Pope Francis continued: “Christianity began for us with Baptism. In ancient times, this was called ‘enlightenment.
The fourth aspect that the Pope associates to the proclamation the Gospel is “healing.” Jesus himself announced “that He came “to set at liberty those who are oppressed”,” and “oppressed are those in life who feel crushed by something that happens: sickness, labors, burdens on the heart, guilt, mistakes, vices, sins”. The Bishop of Rome stated that those who are burdened by their burdens need forgiveness. The power of forgiveness is available to those who believe in Jesus Christ, which releases the soul from all debt.
Pope Bergoglio also recalled the fifth distinctive aspect of the Gospel proclamation, which is that “with Christ the grace to make life new always arrives with amazement.” The proclamation and reception of Jesus must always be accompanied by “the amazement in grace” because “it isn’t we who do great works, but rather it is the grace that the Lord accomplishes unexpectedly through us.” These are the wonders of God.
The joyful proclamation of the Gospel – the Pope added in the final part of his reflection, “is addressed in particular “to the poor”, who are “the recipients explicitly mentioned, because they are God’s beloved. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 25/1/2023)
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Source: fides.org
