A Priceless Treasure

Il-‘Missierna’ (The ‘Our Father’) is a beautiful writing and reflection on God the Father by St George Preca. In this work, the Founder teaches us to call God the Father as the ‘Lord of heaven and earth’. Moreover, he invites us to address him every morning as the "sweet Father of the blessed Jesus Christ’. In the introduction, St George explains why we should use this tender name for God, stating that the inspiration comes from Jesus himself, who taught us the Our Father prayer. This affectionate name inspires and instils confidence, hope, love, and sweetness. Consequently, we are not afraid to approach God and embrace Him as His children. St George Preca delves into the true meaning of the Our Father, providing practical teachings for every Christian. Through this book, he offers a simple exposition for our meditation of the Lord’s prayer. As one begins to read the book, it quickly becomes evident, that St George Preca remains consistently faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and the Bible, from which he drew much inspiration. He manages to present solid dogmatic and spiritual teachings in concise and straightforward paragraphs.   The meaning of the Our Father Our Father who art in heaven. To you we call, O holy God; we turn to you because we are your children. Hallowed be Thy Name. In this way, we ask God to help everyone recognise Him and give Him glory with a sincere rejection of sin. Thy kingdom come. In this way, we ask God to instil in us a true desire for heaven. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In this way, we ask God to grant us the grace to deny ourselves perfectly. Give us this day our daily bread. In this way, we ask God to provide us with everything we need for our soul and body each day. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. In this way, we ask God to show us mercy and to help us show the same mercy to our neighbours. And lead us not into temptation. In this way, we ask God not to leave us alone during trials. But deliver us from evil. In this way, we ask God to fill us with the grace to fear sin and its consequences. Amen. In this way, we affirm that we truly desire all that we have asked of God and that we strongly hope for it from Him.

by Jean-Pierre Lintanf, Dominican Friar   Father, source of all life and of all tenderness, I want to sing to You. From You comes the most wonderful gift, your Son, your Word. It was your breath that gave to the first witnesses tongues of fire. I sing to you because my word is both yours and mine. You alone speak of You, and it is of You, with You, and for You that I try to proclaim from over roofs and walls something that amazes me. I give you thanks for the myriads of open ears that listen to me and the hearts who are ready for the word that I proclaim. I thank you for the overwhelming echo in return or for the great silences. I beg your forgiveness. Fragile vessel that shelters the treasure of your Word, Sometimes I did not follow your word and many times, I was afraid by your word. After all, who am I to dare to speak about you? And so, I ask You two things: to remind me that what's important to me is not necessarily important to you, and that my word will always have the sweetness of your word.

What does mission mean to us believers in God? God the Father sent his Son, Jesus, into the world on a mission. God the Son, made man, Jesus Christ, founded his church to continue his saving mission on earth: "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you" (Jn 21:24). When his mission on earth was accomplished, Jesus, before ascending to His Father, also sent his apostles to make disciples of all nations, to teach the people, to baptise them, and to follow him (cf Mt 28:19-20). Our Common Calling What kind of missionaries does the church need today? Have I ever thanked God for my gift of faith? In response to these questions, we recognise ourselves as local missionaries among our own people. All the baptised and gifted members of the body of Christ are appointed by him to spread the kingdom, penetrating deeply into the world to infuse it with Gospel values. Practically, we are the missionaries in our own surroundings, amidst our highly secularised society. The gift of faith we have received also calls us to revitalise society with our love and presence, especially among the poor, the voiceless, the suffering, the forgotten, and the isolated. As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, we think of missionaries who leave their homeland to go to foreign missions. These are men and women who answered a specific calling to follow Jesus, the first missionary sent by the Father, dedicating their lives to spreading the kingdom of God in other countries. To specially remember them today, we can ask ourselves the following questions: Do I pray for missionaries who are in foreign missions? Do I offer sacrifices for them? Do I save and give some alms or provide material support for this purpose? Do I pray to show gratitude for services received from local missionaries in my home parish or from those in foreign missions? Do I pray to discern if God is calling me to volunteer for the missions? To conclude this short reflection, we say: "Mission must go wherever we go until we meet the One who sent us. The task of sharing Christ with others must continue until we are with Christ". May Mary, Star of Evangelisation, accompany us! Dr Linda Tacorda (Iloilo, The Philippines)

Be inspired by these quotes of St George Preca about the mission! In this world we must fulfil our mission in life. No one can take on the mission of teaching the words of Jesus Christ by his own choice; it is a matter of God's will, as He chooses whom He wants especially those who please him. Jesus Christ left his own mission in the hands of the Shepherds of the Church. Those who teach others are in fact continuing the mission of Jesus Christ This is everyone’s mission, that one teaches to the best of one’s ability. Every mission is a calling from God. It is God's will for us, with the help of His grace, to assist Jesus Christ in His mission through teaching. When God chooses someone for a purpose, God also gives one the means to achieve it. The mission of children is to encourage other children to learn. No one is born solely for himself; therefore, it is necessary for each person to fulfill his mission in the world. Whoever teaches the principles of the Christian life is continuing the mission of Jesus Christ and must first look to Him for inspiration and guidance. Master, may the whole world follow the Gospel!

As you pray The Mission of My Life by St John Henry Cardinal Newman, ask the Lord to help you believe that your life has a definite purpose within his providential governance. Remember, you are truly God's mission on earth!   The Mission of My Life St John Henry Cardinal Newman  God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.

Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, reminds us that we are a mission on this earth. Have you ever considered that you are a mission through your baptism? Being a Christian implies being a missionary disciple of Jesus as well. If you wish to grow in this aspect of the Christian life, regardless of your vocation, follow these simple but effective instructions in your everyday life: Let yourself be led by the Spirit of God. Keep your heart open to everything the Lord wants to instil in it! Draw closer to Jesus and cultivate a loving relationship with Him. Value others as your brothers and sisters. Remember, a true missionary seeks the good of his neighbour and strives for the wellbeing of others. Live the Beatitudes that Jesus presented to us to become an authentic witness of the Christian life. This will make it possible for others to encounter a living Gospel in you. Lead a joyful life close to God through prayer. Find God in everything you do, especially in the simplest aspects of life. Love the world as God loves it through his Son, Jesus Christ. Above all, let God fill you with hope so that you, in turn, can instill hope in others. St George Preca used to say, "Whoever loves God is not satisfied with just loving God himself!" So, love God fervently and love his people the same way that he loves them to become the mission of God on earth!