Hundreds of thousands of young people are returning home from attending World Youth Day held in Portugal.
Pope Francis had invited them to come with the same spirit that Mary had when she left the concerns of her own situation and “arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39) to visit her cousin Elizabeth. He invited them to “set out in haste toward concrete encounters, toward genuine acceptance of those different from ourselves.”
The story of the Visitation describes faith as an encounter with Christ between us and among us. When we are willing to leave behind our concerns, our fears and judgments, we can be open to something new and joyful that “magnifies the Lord.” We can bridge the distance that exists between generations, between classes and races, between the old and the new. World Youth Day concluded on the feast of the Transfiguration — a day which marks another encounter of disciples following Jesus up the mountain to get a glimpse of his glory.
There are many roads that one can take on the journey of faith. Whether it be on a retreat or pilgrimage, in nature or quiet prayer, in a time of pain or loss, or in the ordinary and daily moments, the road leads us to encounter Christ in ways that are personal, intimate, transforming and loving. Like the visitation of Mary, the encounter with Christ between us along the way can also change our view of the world, our view of home and our path forward.
In my ministry, I have the privilege of meeting missionaries returning home from their service abroad after several years. They tell stories of many encounters with people in distant places that opened their eyes to seeing their relationship with the world, with God, and with their vocation in the Church in new and unforeseen ways. Once, I met a man at a gathering of returned missioners. The man had been in Nepal with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. He told the group how mission had “ruined me for life.” At that point all of the other returned missioners nodded their head in agreement. I felt like they knew something that I did not know yet. When I asked the meaning of this motto, he told me how encountering others in mission changes one’s view of everything and opens one to God in ways unknown before.
Last month, our most recent delegation to our sister Diocese of Kitui, Kenya, returned from a two-week visit. Many delegates recounted experiences of amazing hospitality in villages and joyful celebrations of Mass that they had never seen before. The welcome and joy they received from people who live with so little made them wonder who is truly rich and who is poor. The encounter opened them to the presence of God in new ways. It has made some question and think more deeply about their own priorities, values and God’s calling in their lives.
Pope Francis has called the whole Church to foster a culture of encounter, to be ready to set out in haste to meet Christ between us in each moment. To move beyond the borders that keep us apart and build bridges of faith that can change us, transfigure us and heal us. The missionary spirit is the same spirit that prompted Mary to arise and set out in haste. May we be open to leaving ourselves behind enough to be open to encounter Christ — and to be ready to be ruined for life — with the life of Christ alive between us and among us.
Deacon Friesen is director of the Center for Mission, which supports missionary outreach of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He can be reached at friesenm@archspm.org.
