GENUINE WORSHIP 0F GOD IN A SECULARISED WORLD

48 "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1, 3) is "the living God" (Malt. 16, 16). He is a holy, just, and merciful God; He is God the author of the covenant with men; God who sees, frees, and saves; God who loves as a father, as a spouse. Catechesis joyfully proclaims this God who is the source of our every hope (cf. 1 Pet. 1, 3-4).

catechesis, however, cannot ignore the fact that not a few men of our era strongly sense a remoteness and even absence of God. This fact, which is part of the process of secularisation, surely constitutes a danger for the faith; but it also impels us to have a purer faith and to become more humble in the presence of the mystery of God, as we ought: "Truly you are a hidden God, the God of Israel, the Savior" (isa. 45, 15). With this perspective, it is possible also to understand more easily the true nature of the worship which God demands and which glorifies him, a worship, that is, which includes a resolve to fulfil his will in every field of activity, and faithfully to increase in charity the talents given by the Lord (cf. Malt. 25, 14 if.). In the sacred liturgy the faithful bring the fruits of every kind of act of charity, of justice, of peace, in order 10 make a humble offering of them 10 God, and 10 receive in return the words of life and the graces they need to enable them in the world 10 profess the truth in love (cf. Eph. 4, 15) in communion with Christ, who offers his Body and Blood for men.