I admit that I am very struck by a little message that some TV channel puts in some of its programs: 'If you know something about a famous person, write us a WhatsApp'. I am impressed by the eagerness to know the intimacies and adventures of public figures. And it is even more striking that they are not usually looking for exemplary, sublime or exemplary acts ... most of the time they are inconsequential or quite poor. And we Christians have an impressive story to tell! The story of God, the story of a God in love with man, who, out of love, sent his only begotten Son to redeem us and give us heaven! And... we don't tell it!
That is why Pope Francis has chosen this year's motto for this year's World Mission Sunday: 'Tell what you have seen and heard! (cf. Acts 4:20). That is what Peter and John answered when they were forbidden to speak about Jesus, and that is what missionaries are doing today all over the world: telling the wonders of the Lord. And that, yes, that, is what we want to remember this year's World Mission Sunday: that the Church has an impressive task of evangelization ahead of her and... we cannot, we do not want to be silent! And to make it possible, God, the Church and the mission count on everyone: on the missionaries, on the consecrated persons, on you and on me. God, the Church and the mission need your prayer, your fidelity, your witness and your material help, so that it can be realized. ....
One third of the world is classified as mission territory. This means that one third of this world of ours does not have the personal, material or economic means to make the life and pastoral work of the Church possible. Prayer, the value of our offered renunciations and our economic collaboration make it possible that this life does not die out, does not come to an end. We can collaborate, don't you think?
