The Challenge to Persevere

Mission becomes dialogue ~ which presupposes attention, respect, openness and a desire for communion with the other party ~ from simply giving and receiving there is a transition to intercommunication: a mutual giving and receiving. This is both listening and proclamation that creates communion and renews life ~ and is above all a revelation of God's love ~ a reflection of the incarnate love of Christ. A love born poor, that grows in age, wisdom and grace ~ who faces up to differences and conflicts with a good sense of identity, who suffers and dies as a sign of love and communion, who communicates love as a personal gift and who creates new life with the wish that it spread to everyone. This is not the challenge of a single moment but is a long process ~ which is itself a challenge!

Discouragement will come as a temptation, with the desire to avoid reality but our desire to carry out a mission that is inculturated, will lead us to value reality and want it passionately, with continual concern for the signs of the times, so as to act always in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The challenge is for us as missionaries to persevere ~  to be attentive in observing, reviewing and reorganizing our missionary work.