ANNOUNCE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! - ABP. VIDARTE

Fr. Lito Jopson, CBCP ECSC

CEBU CITY, Jan. 25, 2016 – Trujillo Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, O.F.M., in reflecting on the very meaning of “Christ in us, our hope of glory” (Col. 1, 27) underscored the urgency of announcing the Gospel of Christ to all the world till the end of age in the second day of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress held in the Pavilion, Cebu City, Philippines.

“The sufferings of Christ are now complete. In the letter to the Colossians, there is a strong emphasis on the full, complete and actual supremacy of the glorified Christ, who lacks nothing.
However, the apostle (St. Paul) speaks of the need for fulfillment of redemptive sufferings for the Church,” explained the Archbishop.

What is still lacking and needing completion is of living and suffering for the proclamation of the gospel and for the Church.

“Paul suffers for the strength and solidity of the Church, for its steadfastness, for its growth in the knowledge of the treasures manifested by God in His Son. Everything that Paul does and suffers is "for the Church" because it is the body of the Lord, and Paul its deacon,” explained Archbishop Vidarte.

He  underscored the great responsibility for the proclamation of the Word of God:

"It must reach everyone because if not, it has not reached its full realization. It must bear fruit, namely, it should lead to the perfection of every believer in Christ,” the Archbishop said.

The virtue of hope is a requisite in the spreading of the Good News.

“What does it mean to live in hope? “It does not mean it disappeared, but it is already here.”

“It is believing that God is the author of everything.  We must announce the gospel of Christ.  This glory must reach all nations and people.  The glory is the risen Christ, the glory of God,” exhorted the Cardinal.

But evangelization is a long process not proposed to a small group but to all people.

“Evangelism is to make everyone perfect in Christ .... Salvation is for everyone, to all humanity at all times.  He has brought us together as a community, as a people, and not as isolated beings.”

“We are called to a mission ... to charity that proclaims contemplation to action in order to experience the closeness of Christ who said, “I am with you always, until the end of age.” (by Fr. Lito Jopson, CBCP ECSC, TV Maria)