In this year's Message for World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis writes of the journey to Emmaus, "Today, as then, the Risen Lord remains close to his missionary disciples and walks beside them, particularly when they feel disoriented, discouraged, fearful of the mystery of iniquity that surrounds them and seeks to overwhelm them."
Many of us may feel disoriented, discouraged and fearful when we read headlines about the Middle East. Today, as then, the Holy Land struggles for political peace, a situation which has now escalated into war.
Yet, the pope also says, “...let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope!” (Evangelii Gaudium, 86). " In his message, Pope Francis meditates on three key images:
1. Our hearts burned within us “when he explained the Scriptures to us”. In missionary activity, the word of God illumines and transforms hearts.
2. Our eyes were “opened and recognized him” in the breaking of the bread. Jesus in the Eucharist is the source and summit of the mission.
3. Our feet set out on the way, with the joy of telling others about the Risen Christ. The eternal youth of a Church that is always going forth.
In January, we were fortunate to have Fr. Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen, OFM Conv, General Secretary of the Pontifical Missionary Union, join us for a webinar to explore the 2023 World Mission Day Message.
Fr. David La Buda, MM, provided this video which combines imagery with a reading of the message.