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happen unexpectedly and in any place: on the street, in a city square,
during work, on a journey.”
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Of course, being a disciple is a challenge. We
cannot live a life of discipleship alone. We need others to model lives of
discipleship and accompany us as we grow in the spiritual life and experi-
ence ongoing conversion. Similarly, as missionary disciples, we are called
to love and accept all people in a way that invites each person to a deeper
relationship with Christ and a greater alignment of their lives with his
teachings. However, we are not called to make judgments about others.
Pope Francis warns that we cannot truly know a “person’s situation before
God . . . from without.”
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Pope Francis reminds us that the accompaniment aspect of becom-
ing a disciple offers us a chance to be truly present to others, especially to
those who are struggling: “Often it is better simply to slow down, to put
aside our eagerness in order to see and listen to others, to stop rushing from
one thing to another and to remain with someone who has faltered along
the way.”
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The everyday moments of one’s life lived with Christian char-
ity, faith, and hope provide a witness to family members, friends, neigh-
bors, colleagues, and others who may have stopped actively participating
in the life of the Church or those who do not have a faith life. Sometimes,
we may need to accompany those in difficult situations to help them take
gradual steps toward restored sacramental communion.
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This witness is
essential for reaching others in today’s world.
The Holy Father also calls us in a special way to accompany those in
difficult situations related to marriage:
Seeing things with the eyes of Christ inspires the Church’s pasto-
ral care for the faithful who are living together, or are only married
civilly, or are divorced and remarried. Following this divine pedagogy,
the Church turns with love to those who participate in her life in an
imperfect manner: she seeks the grace of conversion for them; she
encourages them to do good, to take loving care of each other and to
serve the community in which they live and work . . . When a couple
in an irregular union attains a noteworthy stability through a public
bond—and is characterized by deep affection, responsibility toward
the children and the ability to overcome trials—this can be seen as
an opportunity, where possible, to lead them to celebrate the sacra-
ment of Matrimony.
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