LIBERATING PROGRAM
Many Christians think they are living their faith responsibly because they’re concerned with fulfilling determined religious practices and they try to adjust their behavior to some moral laws and some church norms.
In addition, many Christian communities think they are faithfully fulfilling their mission because they are eager to offer services of catechism and education in the faith, and they make the effort to celebrate the Christian cult with dignity.
Is this the only thing Jesus wanted to get started when he sent his disciples through the world? Is this the life he wanted to infuse in the heart of history?
We need to listen once again to Jesus’ words in order to rediscover the true mission of believers in the midst of our society. Here’s how the Gospel writer Matthew puts his command: «Go and proclaim that the reign of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Give freely what you have freely received».
Our first task also today is to proclaim that God is near to us, working to save the happiness of humanity. But this announcement of a saving God isn’t made only by means of speeches and suggestive words. It’s not ensured just by catechism or religion classes. Jesus reminds us of the way to proclaim God: work freely to infuse new life into people.
«Heal the sick», that is to say, free people from all that robs them of life and makes them suffer. Heal the soul and the body of those who feel themselves destroyed by pain and who are deformed because of the merciless harshness of their daily life.
«Raise the dead», that is to say, free people from that which blocks their lives and kills their hope. Awaken again the love for life, the trust in God, the will to struggle and the desire for liberty in so many men and women in whom life goes about dying little by little.
«Cleanse lepers», that is to say, cleanse this society of so much lying, hypocrisy and business as usual. Help people to live with more truth, simplicity and honesty.
«Cast out demons», that is to say, free people from so many idols that enslave us, possess us and pervert our living together. There where people are being freed, there is God being announced.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
