29th Sunday Ordinary Time October 22, 2023

Readings: Isaiah  45.1,4-6, Thessalonians 1.1-5, Mathew 22.15-21

This Day invites us to reflect anew on the mission at the heart of the Christian faith.  The Church is missionary by nature; otherwise, she would no longer be the Church of Christ but one group among many others that soon end up serving their purpose and passing away

The Church’s mission, directed to all men and women of good will, is based on the transformative power of the Gospel.   The Gospel is Good News filled with contagious joy, for it contains and offers new life: the life of the Risen Christ who, by bestowing His life-giving Spirit, becomes for us the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6).   He is the Way who invites us to follow Him with confidence and courage.

Dear brothers and sisters, in carrying out our mission, let us draw inspiration from Mary, Mother of Evangelisation.   Moved by the Spirit, she welcomed the Word of life in the depths of her humble faith.   May the Virgin Mother help us to say our own “yes”, conscious of the urgent need to make the Good News of Jesus resound in our time.  May she obtain for us renewed zeal in bringing to everyone the Good News of the life that is victorious over death.   May she intercede for us so that we can acquire the holy audacity needed to discover new ways to bring the gift of salvation to every man and woman.

Fr. Terry