The spiritual legacy of the Catholic Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister for Minorities of Pakistan in Islamabad killed March 2 by armed men. I want to serve Jesus
"My name is Shahbaz Bhatti. I was born into a Catholic family. My father, a retired teacher, and my mother, housewife, I was educated according to Christian values \u200b\u200band the teachings of the Bible which have influenced my childhood.
As a child I used to go to church and find much inspiration in the teachings, sacrifice, and crucifixion of Jesus was the love of Jesus that led me to offer my services to the Church. The appalling conditions in which the Christians of Pakistan upset me. I remember one Good Friday when I was only thirteen years old I heard a sermon on Jesus' sacrifice for our redemption and the salvation of the world. And I thought to correspond to that his love by giving love to our brothers and sisters and to join in the service of Christians, especially the poor, the needy and the persecuted who live in this Islamic country.
I have been proposed to senior government and I was asked to give up my battle, but I always refused, even at the risk of my life. My answer was always the same: "No, I want to serve Jesus by common man."
This devotion makes me happy. I do not want popularity, I do not want positions of power. I just want a place at the feet of Jesus I want my life, my character, my actions speak for me and say that I am following Jesus Christ. This desire is so strong in me that I consider myself privileged if - in my effort and my struggle to help the needy, the poor, the persecuted Christians in Pakistan - Jesus would accept the sacrifice of my life. I want to live for Christ and for Him I die. I feel no fear in this country.
Many times, the extremists tried to kill me and imprison me, I have been threatened, persecuted and terrorized my family. The extremists, a few years ago, even asked my parents, my mother and my father, to dissuade me from continuing my mission to help the Christians and the needy, otherwise I would lose. But my father has always encouraged me. I say that as long as I live, until his last breath, I will continue to serve Jesus and this poor, suffering humanity, Christians, the needy and the poor.
I want to tell you that I find much inspiration in the Holy Bible and the life of Jesus Christ. The more I read the New and the Old Testament, Bible verses and the word of the Lord and most are strengthened my strength and my determination. When I reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ has sacrificed everything, God has sent His own Son our redemption and our salvation, I wonder how I can follow the path of Calvary. Our Lord said, "Come with me, take up your cross and follow me." The steps I love most of the Bible state: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you visited me in prison and you came to me. " So when I see the poor and needy, I think Jesus is in their appearance to meet me.
So I always try to be helpful, along with my colleagues, to give assistance to the needy, the hungry, the thirsty.
* Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian in Pakistan. Nelle prove la speranza, Marcianum Press, Venezia 2008 (pp. 39-43)
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