A Penitent Blogger
Bread Broken for the Life of the World
The Vatican press office published today the message for World Mission Sunday, to be observed October 23. Pope John Paul II signed the document Feb. 22. The first part of that message follows below:
* * *
Mission: Bread Broken for the Life of the World
"My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. "World Mission Sunday, in this year dedicated to the Eucharist, helps us to better understand the 'Eucharistic' sense of our life as we relive the emotion of the Upper Room when, on the eve of his Passion, Jesus offered himself to the world: 'on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me"' (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
"In my recent Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine I invited you to contemplate Jesus in the 'breaking of the bread' offered for the whole of humanity. Following his example we too are called to offer our life for our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need.
"The Eucharist bears the 'mark of universality' and prefigures in a sacramental way the time when 'all who share one human nature, regenerated in Christ through the Holy Spirit and beholding the glory of God, will be able to say with one accord: "Our Father'" (Ad Gentes, 7). In this way, while the Eucharist helps us to understand more fully the significance of mission, it leads every individual believer, the missionary in particular, to be 'bread, broken for the life of the world.'
"Humanity has need of Christ 'broken bread.'
2. "In our day human society appears to be shrouded in dark shadows while it is shaken by tragic events and shattered by catastrophic natural disasters.
"Nevertheless, as 'on the night he was handed over' (1 Corinthians 11:23), also today Jesus 'breaks the bread' (cf Matthew 26:26) for us in our Eucharistic celebrations and offers himself under the sacramental sign of his love for all mankind.
"This is why I underlined that 'the Eucharist is not merely an expression of communion in the Church's life; it is also a project of solidarity for all of humanity' (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 27); it is 'bread from heaven' which gives eternal life (cf John 6: 33) and opens the human heart to a great hope.
"Present in the Eucharist, the same Redeemer who saw the needy crowds and was filled with compassion 'because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd' (Matthew 9:36), continues through the centuries to show compassion for humanity poor and suffering.
"And it is in his name that pastoral workers and missionaries travel unexplored paths to carry the 'bread' of salvation to all.
"They are spurred on by the knowledge that, united with Christ 'center not just of the history of the Church, but also the history of humanity (cf. Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:15-20)' (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 6), it is possible to meet the deepest longings of the human heart.
"Jesus alone can satisfy humanity's hunger for love and thirst for justice; He alone makes it possible for every human person to share in eternal life: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever' (John 6:51).
"The Church, one with Christ, becomes 'broken bread.'"
* * *
Mission: Bread Broken for the Life of the World
"My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. "World Mission Sunday, in this year dedicated to the Eucharist, helps us to better understand the 'Eucharistic' sense of our life as we relive the emotion of the Upper Room when, on the eve of his Passion, Jesus offered himself to the world: 'on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me"' (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
"In my recent Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine I invited you to contemplate Jesus in the 'breaking of the bread' offered for the whole of humanity. Following his example we too are called to offer our life for our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need.
"The Eucharist bears the 'mark of universality' and prefigures in a sacramental way the time when 'all who share one human nature, regenerated in Christ through the Holy Spirit and beholding the glory of God, will be able to say with one accord: "Our Father'" (Ad Gentes, 7). In this way, while the Eucharist helps us to understand more fully the significance of mission, it leads every individual believer, the missionary in particular, to be 'bread, broken for the life of the world.'
"Humanity has need of Christ 'broken bread.'
2. "In our day human society appears to be shrouded in dark shadows while it is shaken by tragic events and shattered by catastrophic natural disasters.
"Nevertheless, as 'on the night he was handed over' (1 Corinthians 11:23), also today Jesus 'breaks the bread' (cf Matthew 26:26) for us in our Eucharistic celebrations and offers himself under the sacramental sign of his love for all mankind.
"This is why I underlined that 'the Eucharist is not merely an expression of communion in the Church's life; it is also a project of solidarity for all of humanity' (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 27); it is 'bread from heaven' which gives eternal life (cf John 6: 33) and opens the human heart to a great hope.
"Present in the Eucharist, the same Redeemer who saw the needy crowds and was filled with compassion 'because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd' (Matthew 9:36), continues through the centuries to show compassion for humanity poor and suffering.
"And it is in his name that pastoral workers and missionaries travel unexplored paths to carry the 'bread' of salvation to all.
"They are spurred on by the knowledge that, united with Christ 'center not just of the history of the Church, but also the history of humanity (cf. Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:15-20)' (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 6), it is possible to meet the deepest longings of the human heart.
"Jesus alone can satisfy humanity's hunger for love and thirst for justice; He alone makes it possible for every human person to share in eternal life: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever' (John 6:51).
"The Church, one with Christ, becomes 'broken bread.'"
posted by Penitens | 8:56 PM
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