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FRIARS OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS MASS OF THE JULY 19
We live the times after the Ascension that represent the beginning of our existential time: to be witnesses of Lord Jesus and to announce His Good News. In the story of Saint Luke there is a very significant aspect: the apostles are staring at the sky as if they were wanting to avoid their responsibilities that were here on Earth, for which a voice from heaven rebuked them angrily : What are you doing there staring at the sky? It is the typical religious and Christian attitude; we also intend to avoid our commitment, expecting from heaven what heaven expects from us. The Ascension shows us the way, Pentecost is the force to undertake the path and for not abandon it. You will receive the strength from the Holy Spirit and will be my witnesses to the ends of the Earth. What is the testimony to which we are called? Mathew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,". Luke: “Be my witnesses. Our commitment and testimony is the evangelization”. At first, Gospel, is not a book. It is instead the announcement of a happy event for everyone, it is an event of total liberation of mankind. It is not just a simple announcement of words, or just publicity. Jesus did not advertize His salvation: He simply healed sick, gave sight to the blind, forgave the sinners, promote to the poor; did good to all and died in the cross for the health of all. His Gospel was a tangible, concrete, and visible event, He introduced in history a new vision of the things, He established the reign of the peace and of the justice, and proposed the sovereignty of love. Nowadays, evangelization is more than saying: Jesus has resurrected, let us rejoice. It is necessary to present to the world the testimony of a community that lives freed of its selfishness, that seeks the good of the brothers. Announcing the Gospel is to struggle so that there are less poor and less sick people, less hatred and less wars; less social differences and an authentic progress accessible to everyone, fair distribution of the wealth and broad respect for the Human Rights. Announcing the Gospel is to report the oppression of the sin, not in the acts of men, but in their same social structures, policies, etc. Let us speak with the language of today’s men, so that they can understand us; let us speak using all the social mass media; let us speak openly and with courage; let us speak knowing what we say and doing what we think. Let us speak by asking men what worries them and let us worry about what we ask them. Like Jesus going to a city or town in which he knows there is hostility, tensions, damages,and threat, a city that is willing to reject Him. Jesus does not go into the city with fear but open and at the same time benevolent and conciliatory. Do not fear daughter of Sion, the evangelist says. He defines the city as a daughter, like a woman to be loved. What Jesus did for His city, entering with opening and benevolence, without weapons or damages, I think that that is what He would do and does for each one of our peoples. What did the El Niño phenomenon teach us? As you all know in Bolivia we have suffered this atmospheric phenomenon. It has shown the government that when the productive system is destroyed, the oligarchy is not destroyed, but hundreds of thousands of producers and thousands of families are left to their fate. Peoples have been taught by nature that when environmental conditions are not respected, nature charges a terrible price. The large producers and businessmen have been taught a great lesson. We want to be a Resurrected Church, that has a supportive spirit and, at the same time, critical of all the social and political changes. A Church close to everyone, so that our lives be testimony of the presence of the Lord in the history of our people. A Church able to read the signs of the times and committed with a true transformation where each person be accepted and respected, valued and supported. To be protagonists in the construction of a better and more united society. |
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Capítulo General 2007 - ORDEN DE PREDICADORES |
