In union with him, the church prays for the healing and the salvation of the world. To the church and to the world Christ sends ambassadors to preach the good news. The reconciling work of Jesus was the supreme turning point in the life of the world. The proclamation of his cross and resurrection calls for personal response and offers present hope. The Holy Spirit enables God's word to be heard in the word of preaching.
Faith comes by hearing, and by preaching it is continually renewed.
They must be hungry to hear what the Lord has to say. The spoken word is food for all believers. In Baptism and the Lord's Supper, there is a sacramental union between the sign and the thing signified. The grace effective in the sacraments comes not from any power in them but from the work of the Holy Spirit. Rightly received, in faith and repentance, the sacraments convey that which they symbolize.