ANSA) - Vatican City, November 30 - Christians must provide
credible witness with their lives, POpe Francis said Friday,
according to Vatican News.
On the Feast of St Andrew Pope Francis addressed believers at
Mass in the Casa Santa Marta urging them to be close to the
Church of Constantinople, of which Saint Andrew the Apostle is
the patron.
Pope Francis invited the faithful to "leave everything in
order to go forward in proclamation and witness, just as Peter
and Andrew did".
The Pope also invited Christians to be close to the Church of
Constantinople and he prayed for unity between the Churches.
The Pope focused his reflection on announcing the Gospel
urging believers to put aside "that attitude, that sin, that
vice" that each of us has "within" in order to be "more
coherent" and to be able to be credible in proclaiming Jesus
with our own witness.
To proclaim Jesus Christ, he said, is not just bringing
"simple news" but "the only great Good News" he said.
He underscored the fact that it has nothing to do with
advertising a good person who has done good, has healed many
people and taught us beautiful things: "No, it's not
advertising. It's not proselytizing (…) it is not what a
preacher does according to the logic of marketing."
Announcing Christ, the Pope continued, is neither proselytism
nor advertising nor marketing: it goes well beyond.
Thus, he reflected on the mission of the apostle who puts his
own life on the line and he recalled an Argentinean saying that
uses the image of "putting one's own flesh on the grill:" that
is, really putting oneself at stake.
He specified that "this journey to announce the Gospel by
putting my life on the line" is a one-way journey: "There is no
return ticket" the Pope said, "turning back would be apostasy"
while testimony means "putting one's life on the line" and
"doing what I say I do".
To be able to proclaim the Word we must be witness, the Pope
reiterated and he lamented the "scandal" brought about by those
who proclaim to be Christians and then live "as pagans, as
non-believers", as if they did not have "faith".
He called for coherence in life which is what gives
credibility to witness and described those who "put their lives
on the line to the end" as martyrs.
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