{"id":19020,"date":"2023-01-19T09:08:34","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T15:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/satodayscatholic.org\/?p=19020"},"modified":"2023-01-19T09:09:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T15:09:04","slug":"pope-francis-jesus-is-the-unsurpassed-model-of-evangelization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satodayscatholic.org\/pope-francis-jesus-is-the-unsurpassed-model-of-evangelization\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis: Jesus is \u2018the unsurpassed model of evangelization\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Pope Francis invited Christians on January 18 to pray for the grace to have a \u201cpastoral heart\u201d like Jesus that \u201csuffers and takes risks\u201d out of love for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At his weekly public audience, the pope said that Jesus provides \u201cthe unsurpassed model of evangelization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChrist not only has the words of life, but he makes his life a Word, a message: that is, he lives always turned toward the Father and toward us,\u201d Pope Francis said in Paul VI Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIndeed, if we look at his days as described in the Gospels, we see that intimacy with his Father \u2013 prayer \u2013 occupies the first place. \u2026 Specifically, within this relationship in prayer which connects him to the Father in the Spirit, Jesus discovers the meaning of his being human, of his existence in the world as a mission for us,\u201d he said, according to a Catholic News Agency report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After praying each day, Jesus dedicated his time to proclaiming the Kingdom of God and serving people, especially the poorest, the most vulnerable, the sinners, and the sick, the pope added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pope Francis said that one of the best images to represent Jesus\u2019 style of life is that of \u201cthe Good Shepherd\u201d who \u201clays down his life for his sheep\u201d (Jn 10:11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy being with Jesus, we discover that his pastoral heart always beats for the person who is confused, lost, far away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this, Jesus the Good Shepherd provides a model against which \u201cto evaluate our pastoral care,\u201d Francis added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n