“Jesus’ whole life, his way of dealing with the poor, his actions, his integrity, his simple daily acts of generosity, and finally his complete self-giving, is precious and reveals the mystery of his divine life.

Whenever we encounter this anew, we become convinced that it is exactly what others need, even though they may not recognize it: ‘What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.’

Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the Gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the Gospel offers us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters. If we succeed in expressing adequately and with beauty the essential content of the Gospel, surely this message will speak to the deepest yearnings of people’s hearts. ‘The missionary is convinced that , through the working of the Spirit, there already exists in individuals and people an expectation, even if an unconscious one, of knowing the truth about God, about man, and about how we are to be set free from sin and death.”

“The primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus which we have received, the experience of salvation which urges us to ever greater love of him. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the beloved, to point him out, to make him known? If we do not feel an intense desire to share his love, we need to pray insistently that he will once more touch our hearts. We need to implore his grace daily, asking him to open our cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm and superficial existence…

The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love, lingering over its pages and reading it with heart. If we approach it in this way, its beauty will amaze and constantly excite us. But if this is to come about, we need to recover a contemplative spirit which can help us to realize ever anew that we have been entrusted with a treasure which makes us more human and helps us to lead a new life. There is nothing more precious which we can give to others.”

This weekend we celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist. This feast rarely falls on Sunday, but because of John’s importance in the story of salvation, the readings and prayers are from the Mass for his Nativity. We hear the familiar story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, both advanced in years, giving birth to a son and then naming him John, rather than Zechariah or another family name. His father wrote on a tablet that “John is his name.” Later, many people came to John for a baptism of repentance who kept stressing the fact that he was the voice of one in the desert and not the messiah. He said: “He must increase; I must decrease.” A whole new age began with John and it is fitting to celebrate his birth on this day, often referred to as the “Summer Nativity.”

I want to welcome Brother Steven Kuehn, O.F.M. who is with us for his summer internship. Br. Steve is studying theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. When you see him, please welcome him to St. Francis.

Our November Pilgrimage to Poland and Eastern Europe is full and we are not accepting any more reservations. Congratulations to those who have signed up. You will be hearing from the Travel Company in July about final payment.

There is much happening in our country that needs our prayer and our action. Contact your Congressman and your Senator. Let them know how you feel about recent actions.