Joy of the Gospel #11

THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
IN TODAY’S WORLD

46. A Church which “goes forth” is a Church whose doors are open. Going out to others in order to reach the fringes of humanity does not mean rushing out aimlessly into the world. Often it is better simply to slow down, to put aside our eagerness in order to see and listen to others, to stop rushing from one thing to another and to remain with someone who has faltered along the way. At times we have to be like the father of the prodigal son, who always keeps his door open so that when the son returns, he can readily pass through it.

Gospel Link to Ponder: Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15:11-32 
"My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
 
Click here to read the entire parable: http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/15

After word: Are your doors open? Are you ready to listen and to love at all costs, as Jesus did? What about the stranger, even those who might intimidate or repulse you?



Paragraph numbers are provided to help you find the quotes for further study and to place these ideas in their original context, should you wish to do so. To read the text in full, click here:

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html#II.