Since 2006, the mission of Joy of the Gospel has been to share the good news of Jesus Christ. The rocks on the ground are even subject to your rule. We need to sink our roots deeper into the fertile soil and history of our native place, which is a gift of God. Each meaningful economic decision made in one part of the world has repercussions everywhere else; consequently, no government can act without regard for shared responsibility. The delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing, The new evangelization for the transmission of the faith, The entire people of God proclaims the Gospel, Evangelization and the deeper understanding of the kerygma, Communal and societal repercussions of the kerygma, Social dialogue as a contribution to peace, he New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, IV. Peace in society cannot be understood as pacification or the mere absence of violence resulting from the domination of one part of society over others. But until exclusion and inequality in society and between peoples are reversed, it will be impossible to eliminate violence. The kingdom, already present and growing in our midst, engages us at every level of our being and reminds us of the principle of discernment which Pope Paul VI applied to true development: it must be directed to “all men and the whole man”. The Church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open. Consequently, we need to be constantly trained in hearing the word. At the same time, it unites “its own commitment to that made in the social field by other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, whether at the level of doctrinal reflection or at the practical level”. 153. Instead of belonging to the whole Church in all its rich variety, they belong to this or that group which thinks itself different or special. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit. No one who loves God’s holy people will view these actions as the expression of a purely human search for the divine. [209] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter, Deus Caritas Est (25 December 2005), 16: AAS 98 (2006), 230. Jn 16:22). Progress in building a people in peace, justice and fraternity depends on four principles related to constant tensions present in every social reality. It is a wonderful thing to be God’s faithful people. Fifty years after the Second Vatican Council, we are distressed by the troubles of our age and far from naive optimism; yet the fact that we are more realistic must not mean that we are any less trusting in the Spirit or less generous. The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Jesus Christ truly lives. Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. Throughout, he demonstrate his particular love and solidarity for the poor. This presence must not be contrived but found, uncovered. This website has a Salvation page to help you on taking the first steps to accepting Jesus. The newly baptized eunuch “went on his way rejoicing” (8:39), while Paul’s jailer “and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God” (16:34). Mk 2:16) without worrying about being thought a glutton and a drunkard himself (cf. This is particularly true if such a living community prays insistently for vocations and courageously proposes to its young people the path of special consecration. Such good news is that Jesus Christ died for our sins. These eight years of his Pontificate have been marked by initiatives and reforms to engage all Christians in a new missionary impetus with the goal of bringing the love of Jesus to all humanity. Fullness evokes the desire for complete possession, while limitation is a wall set before us. Lk 1:41). And if your sins prevent you from drawing nigh, and you never cease to fall – for, as the Psalm says, ‘what man knows his faults?’ – will you remain without partaking of the sanctification that gives life for eternity?”. [95] John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia (6 November 1999), 20: AAS 92 (2000), 478-482. [68] This is a false remedy which cripples the heart and at times the body as well. But this death could not keep you in the tomb. The common good and peace in society [217-237], Time is greater than space [222-225] Unity prevails over conflict [226-230] Realities are more important than ideas [231-233] The whole is greater than the part [234-237], IV. A good homily, an old teacher once told me, should have “an idea, a sentiment, an image.”. The new evangelization is an invitation to acknowledge the saving power at work in their lives and to put them at the centre of the Church’s pilgrim way. Saul’s hate was not only in his thoughts or words, but his actions. The Gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy. This criterion also applies to evangelization, which calls for attention to the bigger picture, openness to suitable processes and concern for the long run. At other times these issues are exploited by a rhetoric which cheapens them. If we wish to adapt to people’s language and to reach them with God’s word, we need to share in their lives and pay loving attention to them. We have a treasure of life and love which cannot deceive, and a message which cannot mislead or disappoint. She is the friend who is ever concerned that wine not be lacking in our lives. The Bishops of Oceania asked that the Church “develop an understanding and a presentation of the truth of Christ working from the traditions and cultures of the region” and invited “all missionaries to work in harmony with indigenous Christians so as to ensure that the faith and the life of the Church be expressed in legitimate forms appropriate for each culture”. Mk 6:2), and they sensed that he spoke to them as one with authority (cf. Filled with Christ’s presence, you brought joy to John the Baptist, making him exult in the womb of his mother. The preacher has the wonderful but difficult task of joining loving hearts, the hearts of the Lord and his people. By as part of a contract, I mean being a part of an agreement. “The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. And in the desert people of faith are needed who, by the example of their own lives, point out the way to the Promised Land and keep hope alive”. We incarnate the duty of hearing the cry of the poor when we are deeply moved by the suffering of others. It is striking that even some who clearly have solid doctrinal and spiritual convictions frequently fall into a lifestyle which leads to an attachment to financial security, or to a desire for power or human glory at all cost, rather than giving their lives to others in mission. These words of the dying Jesus are not chiefly the expression of his devotion and concern for his mother; rather, they are a revelatory formula which manifests the mystery of a special saving mission. The elderly bring with them memory and the wisdom of experience, which warns us not to foolishly repeat our past mistakes. These derive from the pillars of the Church’s social doctrine, which serve as “primary and fundamental parameters of reference for interpreting and evaluating social phenomena”. For the Church today, three areas of dialogue stand out where she needs to be present in order to promote full human development and to pursue the common good: dialogue with states, dialogue with society – including dialogue with cultures and the sciences – and dialogue with other believers who are not part of the Catholic Church. This people which God has chosen and called is the Church. “The Church must look with penetrating eyes within herself, ponder the mystery of her own being… This vivid and lively self-awareness inevitably leads to a comparison between the ideal image of the Church as Christ envisaged her and loved her as his holy and spotless bride (cf. So what are we waiting for? The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. This is a case of inequality. [52] Benedict XVI, Address to the Brazilian Bishops in the Cathedral of São Paulo, Brazil (11 May 2007), 3: AAS 99 (2007), 428. A dialogue which seeks social peace and justice is in itself, beyond all merely practical considerations, an ethical commitment which brings about a new social situation. 190. All of this has great relevance for the preaching of the Gospel, if we are really concerned to make its beauty more clearly recognized and accepted by all. This site uses cookies to give you the best user experience. 235. The people of God is holy thanks to this anointing, which makes it infallible in credendo. We have created new idols. In this sense, we ought to let others be constantly evangelizing us. Such an economy kills. The new evangelization calls for personal involvement on the part of each of the baptized. To those who speak thus I say: when will you be worthy? They think: “Why should I deny myself my comforts and pleasures if I won’t see any significant result?” This attitude makes it impossible to be a missionary. The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a... 3. 217. Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the “peripheries” in need of the light of the Gospel. His resurrection is great news because now he prays to God for us! That is what the angel proclaimed to the shepherds in Bethlehem: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people (Lk 2:10). The earth is our common home and all of us are brothers and sisters. [87] Grace supposes culture, and God’s gift becomes flesh in the culture of those who receive it. When properly understood, cultural diversity is not a threat to Church unity. The Church’s closeness to Jesus is part of a common journey; “communion and mission are profoundly interconnected”. They cease being pilgrims and become drifters, flitting around themselves and never getting anywhere. Jesus is “the first and greatest evangelizer”. [64] G. Bernanos, Journal d’un curé de campagne, Paris, 1974, 135. [194] In this way we learn to accept others and their different ways of living, thinking and speaking. The work of evangelization enriches the mind and the heart; it opens up spiritual horizons; it makes us more and more sensitive to the workings of the Holy Spirit, and it takes us beyond our limited spiritual constructs. 215. Let us now look at preaching within the liturgy, which calls for serious consideration by pastors. Saint Ambrose, De Sacramentis, IV, 6, 28: PL 16, 464: “I must receive it always, so that it may always forgive my sins. To interpret a biblical text, we need to be patient, to put aside all other concerns, and to give it our time, interest and undivided attention. Today we are seeing in many pastoral workers, including consecrated men and women, an inordinate concern for their personal freedom and relaxation, which leads them to see their work as a mere appendage to their life, as if it were not part of their very identity. The integrity of the Gospel message must not be deformed. It is vital that government leaders and financial leaders take heed and broaden their horizons, working to ensure that all citizens have dignified work, education and healthcare. He will dwell forever in the knowledge and love of each faithful soul”. We only devote periods of quiet time to the things or the people whom we love; and here we are speaking of the God whom we love, a God who wishes to speak to us. This permission came from the high priest. [20] In fidelity to the example of the Master, it is vitally important for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear. The believer is essentially “one who remembers”. Faith is not fearful of reason; on the contrary, it seeks and trusts reason, since “the light of reason and the light of faith both come from God”[191] and cannot contradict each other. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. True love is always contemplative, and permits us to serve the other not out of necessity or vanity, but rather because he or she is beautiful above and beyond mere appearances: “The love by which we find the other pleasing leads us to offer him something freely”. Similar to a regular job, work will not get itself done. “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you” (Rom 1:8). At times we have to be like the father of the prodigal son, who always keeps his door open so that when the son returns, he can readily pass through it. As the French bishops have taught, it is not born “of loving sentiment, ephemeral by definition, but from the depth of the obligation assumed by the spouses who accept to enter a total communion of life”.[60]. Saint Paul’s exhortation is directed to each of us: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). [133]  S. 119. At other times, he will simply be in their midst with his unassuming and merciful presence. And how much good has been done by Catholic schools and universities around the world! Consequently, commitment to a unity which helps them to accept Jesus Christ can no longer be a matter of mere diplomacy or forced compliance, but rather an indispensable path to evangelization. Saul’s journey to Damascus deserves no praise. The individualism of our postmodern and globalized era favours a lifestyle which weakens the development and stability of personal relationships and distorts family bonds. Entrusting them with the mission of remaining in each city to “put in order what remains to be done” (Tit 1:5; cf. 14 Followers. The unified and complete sense of human life that the Gospel proposes is the best remedy for the ills of our cities, even though we have to realize that a uniform and rigid program of evangelization is not suited to this complex reality. [124] Concern for the way we preach is likewise a profoundly spiritual concern. Let us try a little harder to take the first step and to become involved. The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak. In the presence of God, during a recollected reading of the text, it is good to ask, for example: “Lord, what does this text say to me? He builds up the communion and harmony of the people of God. Paul VI invited us to deepen the call to renewal and to make it clear that renewal does not only concern individuals but the entire Church. The good news is the joy of the Father who desires that none of his little ones be lost, the joy of the Good Shepherd who finds the lost sheep and brings it back to the flock. 386-387. Here I do not wish to discuss at length the activities of the different pastoral workers, from bishops down to those who provide the most humble and hidden services. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. The Son of God, by becoming flesh, summoned us to the revolution of tenderness. The Church is called to be at the service of a difficult dialogue. Having watched her stumble from one crisis to another, suddenly we are … Christian triumph is always a cross, yet a cross which is at the same time a victorious banner borne with aggressive tenderness against the assaults of evil. They end up being unhappy with who they are and what they do; they do not identify with their mission of evangelization and this weakens their commitment. The Gospel has an intrinsic principle of totality: it will always remain good news until it has been proclaimed to all people, until it has healed and strengthened every aspect of humanity, until it has brought all men and women together at table in God’s kingdom. Seeing their poverty, hearing their cries and knowing their sufferings, we are scandalized because we know that there is enough food for everyone and that hunger is the result of a poor distribution of goods and income. 115. 283. Marriage now tends to be viewed as a form of mere emotional satisfaction that can be constructed in any way or modified at will. [63] A tomb psychology thus develops and slowly transforms Christians into mummies in a museum. 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