"Of
course, all the other sacraments and also the Eucharist involve great care for
souls. We have to care for people but above all -- this is our mandate -- for
their souls. We must think of the many illnesses and moral and spiritual needs
that exist today and that we must face, guiding people to the encounter with
Christ in the sacrament, helping them to discover prayer and meditation, being
silently recollected in church with this presence of God. And then, preaching.
What do we preach? We proclaim the Kingdom
of God. But the Kingdom of God is not a distant utopia in a better
world which may be achieved in 50 years' time, or who knows when. The Kingdom of God is God Himself, God close to us who
became very close in Christ. This is the Kingdom of God:
God Himself is near to us and we must draw close to this God who is close for
He was made man, remains man and is always with us in His Word, in the Most
Holy Eucharist and in all believers. Therefore, proclaiming the Kingdom of God means speaking of God today, making
present God's words, the Gospel which is God's presence and, of course, making
present the God who made Himself present in the Holy Eucharist"
(Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI, July 24, 2007,Meeting with Clergy)
