The Church must be Alert and Vigilant to the Signs of Times

(February 09, 2012) A Pastor is called to be among his brethren a visible and efficacious sign of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd and must be faithful in the service of the Master even when he is delayed, which will help him to gain his ultimate reward, said Archbishop Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He gave this message in his homily during the Mass celebrated at the Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Rome on Wednesday for the Participants of international conference on the Church’s paedophilia crisis held during this week in the Rome’s Gregorian University. As the Prelate gave his reflection on the Parable of the Vigilant Servant, he called on the paricipants to be persons of God always alert and filled with courage. He stressed on the need of a careful formation of the People of God, in view of a new evangelization. Referring to the words of Pope Benedict XVI the Cardinal Designate said that God makes use of weak human persons to be his instruments in the world, to be available to all and to act on his behalf. Those who remain faithful will always have the prize awaiting them. The Master himself will serve his people and serving is the supreme art. God is the first servant who chose to serve humankind. Jesus did tell his disciples that whoever wants to become great among them shall be their servant, and whoever would be first among them must be slave of all. Thus Jesus has bound all human authority in the service of a community. He has made the service the new name of the Church, but also the specific relationship between man and God. Jesus came to overthrow the evil that binds and suffocates man and the Church now has the mandate to continue his work. In the words of Pope Benedict: the Church must search for truth in humility and with a profound desire for renewal and thus go for an effective conversion of heart, said the Prelate.