Every man and woman does not feel the need to prove God's existence ~ rather ~ people want to feel and be helped to perceive his presence. God can't be proved, only shown. God is witnessed by a genuine life of faith and by a radical giving of self. The Lord says, "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before all, that they may see your good works and be thankful to your heavenly Father" (Mt 5:16).
The Gospels are very concise on saying what the disciples must say and do. In the school of the mission of Jesus, there is greater insistence on the lifestyle of the announcers. The life of the disciple requires some essential elements.
The disciples are encouraged to have a preferential attention and dynamic care for the sick, the poor, the lepers, the oppressed. They must be passionately in love with humanity and its integral liberation, like Christ. Like the Master on the road to Emmaus, they are called to be companions on the journey, to help perceive and make sense of events. And, like Christ, they must prefer to be with the poor and the suffering. Love and mission are inseparable.
The demeanour of the disciple must be one of sobriety and simplicity, in a climate of gratitude and availability. The disciples must be ready to give everything, without expecting anything in return ~ they must love freely without holding back and unconditionally.
Even more, all the Gospels predict possible sufferings that the disciples will experience. The disciple must expect sorrows and even persecutions ~ following the fate of the Master ~ but they must not be afraid, the Father will watch over them. They must only be concerned with remaining faithful to their vocation and to the radical demands of the Gospel and the Mission!
