Everyone is familiar with chapter 13 of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians, usually known as the hymn to love. In it Paul rightly tells us that one may have all the talents and abilities in his life, but if he lacks charity all these things are to no avail. Charity is the common DNA of every human being because God created every human being in His image and therefore has the ability to love and discover God in his own life. With this reality in our hearts we at Missio form people in this vision and organize activities to evangelize the whole world.
Diversity of language, culture and religion are not obstacles to evangelization but an enrichment. Pope Francis affirms this in his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti:
“Freedom is a right of every person: each individual enjoys the freedom of belief, thought, expression and action. The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.This divine wisdom is the source from which the right to freedom of belief and the freedom to be different derives.”
Missio Malta through its international relations with missionaries in poor countries and with local formation sessions, built a code of conduct for mutual cooperation, freedom and love with others by making oneself one with the other through listening, feeling and taking action on other people`s needs regardless of religion, creed, nationality or gender.
Local formation and missionary experience abroad
At present Missio is preparing with formation a group of young adults who are interested to make a missionary experience in South India. Periodically they meet for formation and put up projects to raise funds for the poor they are about to visit. The group has recently helped a Hindu movement, inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, called Shanti Ashram, who requested us financial help for food, education and health for poor children in 9 villages in Coimbatore, India. The recipients and the donors have entered, through correspondence, a mutual friendship, love and respect which reflects the beauty of an inter-religious dialogue of life that is in itself true evangelization. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis tells us:
“Dialogue, understanding and the widespread promotion of a culture of tolerance, acceptance of others and of living together peacefully would contribute significantly to reducing many economic, social, political and environmental problems that weigh so heavily on a large part of humanity”.