Tell the world of God’s love
The 10th World Youth Day took place in Manila from Jan. 10-15, 1995. It was an event of great magnitude for all young Filipino Catholics at that time. We were the first Asian country to host a big international festival, which was attended by many pilgrims from different countries, Pope John Paul II included. That marked his second trip to our country, the first was in 1981. Young people who participated in those days of prayer, reflection and togetherness would remember it with nostalgia and intense feelings. I’m sure many still keep souvenirs to bring them down to memory lane. Those were days of joyful celebration of faith.
“Tell the world of His love” was the hit song that connected millions of young people together that brought about a community experience. Written by singer-songwriter Trina Belamide, it won the Grand Prize of about 85 entries to become the official theme song of the event. This song had an electrifying power that mesmerized the whole country for a year because of its simple yet deep message. As it was played on the radio, commercial ads and churches during Sunday Masses, not a single soul was untouched by its evocative melody. It became an anthem and a challenge.
Jesus continues to challenge us to tell the world of God’s love. This Sunday, the liturgical readings recall the event of the ascension of Jesus into heaven. After his earthly journey, he returns to home. He returns to the Father who sent him. He assures us, though, that all he did was a labor of love. It was out of love that the Father sent him. Jesus wanted us to experience the Father’s goodness in his person. All He did was to make us “see the Father” so that he can lead us to a personal relationship with God. It was also out of love that he returns to prepare a place for us. Before ascending, he makes an explicit command: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Matthew is more precise: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Telling the world of God’s love is the act of evangelization. Each of us by virtue of our baptism is called to live our faith and to bear witness to the Gospel. Hence, evangelization is our deepest identity being part of God’s family, which is the Church. Evangelization is bringing the good news of the Gospel to all who seek the life-giving message of faith in Jesus. That includes our family members, our friends and peers, our co-workers or just strangers in our community. Because of this, by nature, we are all missionaries because the Church is by her very nature is missionary.
An inspiring example of Christian witness is the Frenchman Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916). He was an agnostic soldier and wealthy playboy-turned-ascetic-hermit after rediscovering his faith. After his conversion, he said: “After I discovered that there is a God, it was impossible for me not to live for him alone.” He lived among the nomadic Tuaregs in Algeria and never converted a single soul. But he believed that his life’s call was to love: “Let us concern ourselves with those who lack everything,” he stated, “those to whom no one gives a thought. Let us be the friends of those who have no friends, their brother. The love of God, the love of men, that is my whole life, that will be my whole life, I hope. When we can suffer and love, we can do much, the most that one can do in this world.” Ironically, he was assassinated by bandits in search of gold but his silent and convincing witness was contagious that many others followed him courageously.
As we celebrate the 46th World Communications Day, Pope Benedict the XVI has a message for all Christians titled “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization.” He writes: “The God of biblical revelation speaks also without words. As the cross of Christ demonstrates, God also speaks by his silence.. the eloquence of God’s love, lived to the point of supreme gift, speaks in the silence of the Cross. After Christ’s death there is a great silence over the earth. God’s voice resounds, filled with love for humanity.”
We can tell God’s love to the world not only by our words. Most eloquently through our silent and courageous witness.
