In the recent edition of the catechesis titled May Your Kingdom Come, the bishop of Cuernavaca and president of the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), Ramón Castro Castro, called on the faithful to become “living gospels” and credible witnesses of Christ in a Mexico that cries out for authenticity and hope. In his message, the prelate emphasized the importance of living Christian values coherently, in a context where hypocrisy and inconsistency have eroded trust in leaders and institutions.
The bishop highlighted that being a credible witness does not imply perfection, but a genuine effort to embody the principles of faith in everyday life. “Living coherently does not mean living perfectly. We will always be limited beings, but we can live by putting all our heart into it, as we Mexicans say,” he affirmed, quoting Pope Benedict XVI, who exhorted Christians to reflect Christ through their actions, words, silences, and example.
Castro Castro criticized the contradiction of those who preach values they do not practice, such as politicians who talk about austerity while accumulating wealth, businesspeople who promote social responsibility but exploit their workers, or preachers who exalt humility while seeking power. In contrast, he highlighted examples of authenticity: a migrant mother who shares her food with the most needy, a businessperson who pays fair wages, a young person who chooses to study instead of seeking easy money, or a politician who prioritizes the common good over personal benefit.
The bishop invited the faithful to reflect on the principles of the Church’s social doctrine—the common good, the universal destination of goods, participation, and solidarity—and to apply them in their work, family, and social environments. “How to live the truth when everyone lies, how to live justice when corruption seems normal, how to live authentic freedom when licentiousness is confused with progress,” he questioned, urging those present to be light in a Mexico tired of empty promises.
Inspired by the saints, who were credible witnesses in their everyday lives, the bishop encouraged the faithful to start today, from where they are, with simple but meaningful gestures: the teacher who arrives early to a school in a marginalized area, the nurse who treats patients without resources with dignity, or the driver who avoids conversations that harm others. “You don’t need to be a saint to start being a credible witness,” he assured.
Castro’s message resonates as a call to action in a country that, according to his words, “desperately needs credible witnesses, not perfect ones, but authentic ones”. He concluded by exhorting Christians to be “living gospels” that, through their lives, transmit hope and meaning in a world that needs it urgently. “May your kingdom come,” he concluded, inviting everyone to live the faith with joy and commitment.
The full catechesis can be viewed here