March 2001 VOICE OF SHALOM

Contemplate the face of Christ Today I would like to suggest that you examine my Apostolic Letter Novo millennio ineunte, (At The Beginning of the New Millennium). I invite you to make it the object of your reflection, to draw from it inspiration for your personal and community journey. I would especially urge you to reflect on what I consider the essential core of the Jubilee legacy: the commitment to set out anew from Christ. Is not contemplation of Christ's face the heart of all the human, cultural and spiritual formation to which you are devoting yourselves. . . ? Precisely because you are called to follow the Master more closely, you are invited to "contemplate his face" more deeply (Novo millennio ineunte, n. 16). You, in turn, will then be witnesses and guides for the men and women of our time, enabling yourselves to lead them to the discovery of Christ's beauty and majesty. "We wish to see Jesus" (Jn 12: 21): the desire expressed by certain Greek pilgrims shortly before the Passover is also found in the hearts of many of our contemporaries. Like Philip and Andrew (cf. Jn 12: 22), you too must be able to lead them to a direct experience of the divine Master. Pope John Paul II L'Osservatore Romano dated Janaury 15, 2001

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