Easter impels us to be missionary people

Dear Young Church: 

We have just celebrated the feast of Easter, the resurrection of Christ from the dead. It is the most solemn feast that we celebrate each year.

We are mindful that the spirit of Easter – the risen Christ living in us and working with us – is not just for one day or one season, but for the entire year.

Pope Francis has often reminded the young church that they are to be missionary disciples. All of us are called to be disciples, that is, to know that Jesus loves us, to accept his love and to do our very best to return that love through prayer and through our daily actions.

Our relationship with the Lord Jesus is not just between him and us individually. We are called to be disciples who have a missionary spirit, which means we are willing to reach out to bring Christ to others.

We are willing to try to seek Christ in the face and the lives of others.

We are willing to look for the poor and those who are neglected, those who are on the sidelines of life, those who are bullied and those who were hurt by violence.

We are also willing to share our faith with others and not to apologize for being a Christian and a Catholic.

This Easter season gives us an opportunity to recommit ourselves not only to being disciples, but to be missionaries – to reach out to live our faith, to share our faith and to bring others to know Christ.

Please know that I am with you in prayer. School is not yet over, but I know that many of you are ready for the summer. Be patient and keep working hard at school and being a caring person in your family.

Wishing you God’s blessings, I am your brother in Christ,