MESSAGE OF POPE LEO XIV
FOR WORLD MISSION DAY 2025

As we on our baptismal call to be "missionaries of hope among the peoples,"

let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing

Christ Jesus our Hope to the ends of the earth.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Exodus 17:8-13

 When the Israelites

Were at Rephidim, the Amalekites came and attacked them.

So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites in the morning.

As for me, I will stand with God's staff in my hand at the top of the hill."

 

Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had directed, while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.

It happened that when Moses raised his hands, the Israelites would win but when he lowered them, the Amalekites would have the advantage.

 

As Moses' arms grew weary they placed a stone for him to sit on while Aaron and Hur on either side held up

his arms which remained steadily raised until sunset. For his part Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the sword.

 

Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

2 Timothy 3:14-4:2

As for you, continue with what you have learned, and what has been entrusted to you, knowing from whom you received it.

Besides, you have known the Scriptures from childhood; they will give you the wisdom that leads to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, refuting error, for correcting and training in Christian life.

Through Scripture, the man of God is made expert and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead,

and by the hope I have of his coming, and his kingdom, I urge you to preach the word,

in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking, or advising, always with patience, and providing instruction.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 18:1-8

esus told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart.

He said, "In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people.

In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, 'Defend my rights against my adversary!'

For a time, he refused, but finally he thought, 'Even though I neither fear God nor care about people,

this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out."

 

And Jesus said, "Listen to what the evil judge says. Will God not do justice for his chosen ones,

who cry to him day and night, even if he delays in answering them?

I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina

"Persevere in our prayer."

Read: When Moses' arms are raised to God, the Israelites win the battle.

Paul urges Timothy to keep preaching, even when it is unpopular.

Christ teaches about perseverance in prayer through the parable of the widow and the unjust judge.

 

Reflect: Weariness can overtake us both in activity and in prayer.

The challenges we face at work or at home can weigh us down, a bit like Moses' arms.

We can find it hard to carry the burden further. Likewise,

in prayer, we may have prayed long and hard about a difficult situation and still it persists.

Again, like Moses, the raising of our arms in prayer might fall in weariness, in doubt or despair.

 

Christ encourages us to persevere in our prayer, and not to give up in the dark, heavy times.

However, we are to remember that Moses' arms were held up by others. He couldn't do it alone.

Similarly, we are to remember the communion we have with others in the Church and support them when they are struggling in life or in prayer.

We hold each other up, so that together we persevere in our pleading with God and in our fidelity to him.

 

Pray: Hold others up to God in your prayer today.

 

Act: Offer practical support to someone today.