The prophetic dimension of evangelical citizenship

Citizenship, a prophetic sign

78. In the Sermon on the Mount, after the proclamation of the beatitudes, Jesus illustrates through eloquent images the mission of His disciples, or better, the reflection upon the world of the spirit of the beatitudes.  «You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden» (Mt 5, 13-16). Our evangelical citizenship is radiant by its very nature and becomes a prophetic sign. It is dynamic, it is in constant development, and it grows in inner depth, in visible efficacy, in solid foundations and in creativity of projects and actions.

It urges to go out into the deep

79. In the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II invites the whole Church to go forward in hope, keeping our eyes fixed on the face of Christ; to put out into the deep with courage and trust (n. 16, 58). Following the suggestion of the Holy Father, Fr. Juan Vecchi, in his last Strenna that is almost a spiritual last will and testament, proposes Duc in Altum as the password for the whole Salesian Family at the beginning of this millennium.  Specifically, he points out the direction,the breadth and depth of the direction towards which we are to navigate.  They are wise and precious suggestions even for the realization of our evangelical citizenship today.

The field of action of our educational mission is becoming ever more extensive. The context in which we live and work is becoming more complex, the challenges stronger and greater in number. This requires competence, a mentality for planning, sapiential reading of the reality, the ability to dialogue, to listen to the culture and to the signs of the times, organization and co-responsibility. The magnitude of the task is joined to the depth of our being rooted in God, of our insertion into the mystery of the Covenant. It is the eloquence of sanctity that makes our mission fruitful.

To be proclaimers of joy and of hope

80. In the spirit of the beatitudes, we live our citizenship as joyful collaborators (cf 2 Cor 1,24) for our brothers and sisters, especially for young people.  We are called to be witnesses of hope and weavers of unity within the marvelous and dramatic history of our time.

Mary Help of Christians whose name we bear and whose presence we prolong in time, guide and accompanies us on this journey.  We experience her efficacious help in our educative mission, our way of living evangelical citizenship.