Panel 11: We have a mission – Ite missa est

 „By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35)

The life of Christians is the only Bible that people still read. Christian families are called to bear witness to the love of God, to awaken the desire for God, and to show the beauty of the gospel and the way of life it proposes. When most marriages end in divorce, the fashion of a consciously committed single lifestyle is strong, or even living with a pet is called a family, our world needs a “strong family injection” especially now.

The presence of Christ in the sacrament of marriage creates a special mission for the church: the home will become a church. The church is realized in small. Originally, this is how the church was created: in a pagan atmosphere, the houses of families were the places where Christianity was lived. This touched the Gentiles, “Look how much they love one another!” And they were attracted by these homes.

Our own family comes first: we don’t raise movement orphans and widows. Many well-meaning, willing-to-do Christians make the mistake of using their energies for others exclusively or mainly in the parish, or next door, but in any case outside the walls of their own homes. At home in the children’s noise, close to a busy, tired spouse is often harder to stand in the gap than helping distant neighbours. Of course, both services are needed, but positional duties at home take precedence.

Our existence, who we are, where we live, largely determines our responsibilities. The apostolate of existence does not mean doing anything, but requires an attentive, loving presence. The way we work, the way we talk to our colleagues, about our family, our lives, our competitors, our enemies, tells about our faith more than our words.

The precondition for the proclamation of our faith is an atmosphere radiating reliability and love, an atmosphere that flows from our being and our home.

In our narrow environment, we can do a lot, we can create “oases”, where the defining atmosphere is clean and healthy, compassionate and supportive, where it is possible to enter, recharge and relax even for desert wanderers.

Suggestion for spousal conversation:

Which one of our common values can we show the world? How can we become a sign of God?