Chapter One
IN THE SERVICE OF NEW EVANGELIZATION
"It was not you who
chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will
remain" (John 15:16)
1. New
Evangelization, responsibility of the entire Church
Being
called and sent by the Lord have always been relevant but in contemporary
historical circumstances they acquire a particular importance. The end of the
twentieth century, from a religious perspective, is marked by contrasting
phenomena. On the one hand, intense secularization in society results in
rejection of God and all reference to the transcendent, while the other is
marked by the emergence of a greater religious sensitivity which seeks to
satisfy the innate aspiration for God which is present in the hearts of all
mankind but which sometimes fails to find satisfactory expression.
"The
mission of Christ the Redeemer which is entrusted to the Church, is still very
far from completion. As the second millennium after Christ's coming draws to an
end, an overall view of the human race shows that this mission is still only
beginning and that we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its
service".(5) Today, this missionary task is carried out largely in
the context of the new evangelization of many countries which have had long
Christian traditions but in which the Christian understanding of life appears
to be in decline. It is also carried out in the general context of mankind, in
which not everyone has yet heard and understood the proclamation of the
salvation brought by Christ.
It is a
sad but evident reality that many have heard of Christ but seem to know and
accept his teaching merely as a set of general ethical norms rather than as
concrete life commitments. Large numbers of the baptized have abandoned
following Christ and live by the tenets of relativism. In many instances, the role
of the Christian faith is reduced to that of a purely cultural factor often
limited to a merely private sphere and without any social relevance in
individual or national life.(6)
After
twenty centuries of Christianity there is still no shortage of wide missionary
fields. All Christians should be aware that, in virtue of their baptismal
priesthood (cf. 1 Pt 2, 4-5.9; Ap 1, 5-6. 9-10; 20, 6), they are
called to collaborate, in so far as their personal circumstances permit, in the
new evangelizing mission which is a common ecclesial undertaking.(7)
Responsibility for missionary activity "is incumbent primarily on the
College of Bishops presided over by its head, the Successor of Peter".(8)
"Priests, who are collaborators with the bishop in virtue of the Sacrament
of Orders, are called to share responsibility for the mission".(9)
Thus it can be said that, in a certain sense, they bear primary responsibility
for this new evangelization of the third Millennium".(10)
Encouraged
by scientific and technical advances, contemporary society has developed a
profound sense of critical independence from secular and religious authority
and doctrine. This situation requires thorough explanation and presentation of
the Christian message of salvation which always remains a mystery. Such must be
done with respect, and with the power and capacity of the first evangelization,
while making prudent use of all suitable methods afforded by modern technology.
However, it should never be forgotten that technology is no substitute for the
witness of holiness of life. The Church needs true witnesses to communicate the
Gospel in every sector of society. From this derives the need for all
Christians in general, and for priests in particular, to acquire a profound and
proper training in philosophy and theology(11) which enables them to
render account for their faith and hope. Such also alerts them to the
importance of presenting the faith constructively by means of personal dialogue
and understanding. Proclamation of the Gospel, however, cannot be reduced to
dialogue alone. The courage of the truth is, in fact, an ineluctable challenge
when confronted with temptation to conform, or to seek facile popularity or
personal convenience.
When
evangelizing, it must be remembered that some of the traditional ideas and
vocabulary of evangelization have become unintelligible to the greater part of
contemporary culture. Certain contexts are impervious to the positive Christian
sense of terms such as original sin and its consequences, redemption, the
cross, the need for prayer, voluntary sacrifice, chastity, sobriety, obedience,
humility, penance, poverty, etc. New evangelization, in fidelity to the
doctrine of the faith constantly taught by the Church and with a strong sense
of responsibility with regard to the vocabulary of Christian doctrine, must
discover means of expressing itself to the contemporary world so as to help it
rediscover the profound meaning of these Christian and human terms. In this
effort, new evangelization cannot discard the established formulations of faith
which have already being arrived at and which are summarized in the Creed.(12)
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