A significant yearning

"There is no man or woman who, in his/her own life, would not find him/herself like the woman of Samaria beside a well with an empty bucket, with the hope of finding the fulfillment of the heart’s most profound desire, that which alone could give full meaning to existence". The final message of the Synod of Bishops to the People of God begins with a heartfelt reflection. The message is marked by the "necessity" of "leading the men and women of our time to Jesus, to the encounter with him". Today, "many wells offer themselves to quench humanity’s thirst", but we must "orient the search well, so as not to fall prey to disappointment, which can be disastrous". The message takes stock of the problems and challenges faced by mankind, which have been the object of discussion during the days of the Synod, but it leaves a sign of hope. "Our world is full of contradictions and challenges, but it remains God’s creation", the bishops write. It is wounded by evil, but God loves it still. It is his field in which the sowing of the Word can be renewed so that it would bear fruit once more. There is no room for pessimism in the minds and hearts of those who know that their Lord has conquered death and that his Spirit works with might in history".Humbleness. The word "Humbleness" recurs in the first paragraphs of the document, thus "the invitation to evangelize becomes a call to conversion". "We must recognize that the poverty and weaknesses of Jesus’ disciples, especially of his ministers, weigh on the credibility of the mission. We are certainly aware – we Bishops first of all – that we could never really be equal to the Lord’s calling and mandate to proclaim his Gospel to the nations. We know that we must humbly recognize our vulnerability to the wounds of history and we do not hesitate to recognize our personal sins. We are, however, also convinced that the Lord’s Spirit is capable of renewing his Church and rendering her garment resplendent if we let him mold us. This is demonstrated by the lives of the Saints, the remembrance and narration of which is a privileged means of the new evangelization. If this renewal were up to us, there would be serious reasons to doubt". De facto families. In the paragraph dedicated to the family, the Synod fathers address a special thought to "to the many families and couples living together which do not reflect that image of unity and of lifelong love that the Lord entrusted to us. There are couples who live together without the sacramental bond of matrimony. More and more families in irregular situations are established after the failure of previous marriages. These are painful situations that affect the education of sons and daughters in the faith. To all of them we want to say that God’s love does not abandon anyone, that the Church loves them, too, that the Church is a house that welcomes all, that they remain members of the Church even if they cannot receive sacramental absolution and the Eucharist. May our Catholic communities welcome all who live in such situations and support those who are in the path of conversion and reconciliation".Youth, economy and politics. "Witnessing to the Gospel is not the privilege of one or of a few. We recognize with joy the presence of many men and women who with their lives become a sign of the Gospel in the midst of the world". The bishops call upon everyone: the youth, for whom they ask "not to suppress, the power of their enthusiasm"; to the world of economy and of labor the Synod fathers remind "to redeem work from the conditions that often make it an unbearable burden and an uncertain future threatened by youth unemployment". The exhortation to the politics is that of "a commitment of selfless and sincere care for the common good" and a "clear witness to the precept of charity".Persecuted Christians. The Synod message closes with a thought that embraces the whole earth and all of Christianity. It gives "a special consideration, full of fraternal affection and gratitude", to the "Christians of the Catholic Oriental Churches". "In many places your Churches are amidst trials and tribulation through which they witness to their participation in the sufferings of Christ". "May the Lord continue to bless your faithfulness. May your future be marked by the serene confession and practice of your faith in peace and religious liberty". The message is also addressed to "Christians, men and women, who live in the countries of Africa", "we express our gratitude for your witness to the Gospel often in difficult circumstances". The bishops mention everyone, Northern and Southern America, Oceania, Christian minorities in Asia, and Europe. The final paragraph states: "Arriving at the end of this experience of communion among Bishops of the entire world and of collaboration with the ministry of the Successor of Peter, we hear echoing in us the actual command of Jesus to his apostles: "Go and make disciples of all nations […] and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20)".