Pope Francis ended the Jubilee weekend for Catechists with this Mass. During the homily, he had a special message for them, centering around their work with people in each of their parishes around the globe.
POPE FRANCIS
'On this Jubilee for Catechists, we are being asked not to tire of keeping the key message of the faith front and centre: the Lord
is risen. Nothing is more important; nothing is clearer or more relevant than this. Everything in the faith becomes beautiful when linked to this
centerpiece, if it is saturated by the Paschal proclamation. If it remains in isolation, however, it loses its sense and force.â?
The pope said it is only through loving God and this joy, that love is transmitted to the world. He explained that Christ loves everyone just as they
are, if only they opened their hearts and allowed His love to enter.
POPE FRANCIS
'It is by loving that the God-who-is-Love is proclaimed to the world: not by the power of convincing, never by imposing the truth, no less by growing fixated on some religious or moral obligation. God is proclaimed through the encounter between persons, with care for their history and their journey.â?
Through encounters like these, Jesus' new commandment to 'love one another as I have loved you,â? is able to be transmitted to others if people are not afraid of testifying to the truth.
POPE FRANCIS
'We do not speak convincingly about Jesus when we are sad; nor do we transmit Godâ??s beauty merely with beautiful homilies. The God of hope is proclaimed by living out the Gospel of love in the present moment, without being afraid of testifying to it, even in new ways.â?
The pope told the catechists gathered in St. Peter's Square that God is proclaimed through
meeting, listening to and welcoming people with the joy of Christ, the joy of the resurrection.
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