Pope Francis – October 2021

At work, with your family, with your friends, when you meet someone by chance... Any moment is suitable for being a missionary disciple. “If Christ moves you, if you do things because Christ is guiding you,” your testimony of life will make others ask, “What is the source of the love with which this person treats everyone—the kindness and good humor?” In this way, far from any form of proselytism, we can all be available for the mission, which is based, as Francis says, on an encounter between people, on the testimony of life of men and women. “Jesus asks us all, and you as well, to be missionary disciples. Are you ready? It’s enough to be available to answer His call and to live united to the Lord in the most common daily things—work, meeting other people, our daily duties, the chance events of each day—allowing ourselves to be guided always by the Holy Spirit. If Christ moves you, if you do things because Christ is guiding you, others will notice it easily. 

 And your testimony of life will inspire admiration, and admiration inspires others to ask themselves, “How is it possible for this person to be this way?” or “What is the source of the love with which this person treats everyone—the kindness and good humor?” Let us remember that the mission is not proselytism; the mission is based on an encounter between people, on the testimony of men and women who say, “I know Jesus, and I’d like you to know Him too.” Brothers and sisters, let us pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavor of the Gospel.