Week 17, Tuesday. Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

72. The religious sector had particular resonance in the Church. The responses to the Lineamenta first mentioned ecumenical dialogue, repeatedly emphasizing how these various changes have fostered the development of major ecumenical endeavors. Realistically speaking, they also recounted difficult times and tense moments which are being addressed with patience and determination. The new situations taking place within the various sectors, where we as Christians are called to live out our faith and proclaim the Gospel, have revealed the necessity for a real unity among Christians, which is not to be seen merely as cordial relations or cooperation in some joint-project, but rather as the desire to let ourselves be transformed by the Spirit, so that we may increasingly be conformed to the image of Christ. This unity is essentially spiritual in nature and must be prayed for, even before it is actually realized. If this ecumenical aspect is to be a part of the conversion and renewal of the Church’s members, which is called for by the current crisis, efforts must continue to be made, in a convincing way, to see all Christians as united in showing the world the prophetic and transforming power of the Gospel message. This is an imposing task which can only be met in a communal effort, guided by the Spirit of the Risen Christ, who left us a mandate in his prayer: “That they may all be one” (John 17:21).
73. Secondly, the religious sector concerns interreligious dialogue, which, in a variety of ways, is a necessity today throughout the world. Interreligious dialogue has already had some positive results. The countries of an ancient Christian tradition see in the expanding presence of the great religions, particularly Islam, an incentive to develop new forms of involvement, visibility and proposing the Christian faith. Generally speaking, interreligious dialogue and discussion with the great religions of the East can be an opportunity for our Christian communities to deepen their understanding of our faith, in virtue of the questions that such a discussion raise in us, questions about the course of human history and God’s presence in it. Interreligious dialogue also provides an occasion to refine the instruments of dialogue and the places of collaboration in developing peace in an increasingly human society. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 72-73)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. (Psalm 79:9, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, Who raised up Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Your Church
to further the greater glory of Your Name,
grant that by his help we may imitate him
in fighting the good fight on earth and
merit to receive with him a crown in heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Returning to the sector added in the Instrumentum Laboris, the religious sector, today’s selections focus on ecumenical and interreligious efforts.

In terms of the ecumenical dialogue, no Christian can shy away from this work. True, our little human fiefdoms have grown over time and become entrenched in particular ways of acting and thinking. Yet the haunting prayer of Jesus the night before He died looms over ALL Christians: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, so that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me (John 17:20-21).” Of all the concerns that Jesus had for His disciples and the small community formed by His words and deeds, unity was and remains central. It is vital, however, that Christians properly approach unity. This is not a call to ‘all get along.’ This is not a call to adulterate teachings to the least common denominator so as to show a semblance of cohesiveness to the world. Rather, the unity Jesus prayed for and the unity that guides ecumenical work is the oneness of the Most Holy Trinity. Our work as Christians, our unity must be Trinitarian – not a mere humanly agreed grouping of differing beliefs and practices under some cloak of togetherness that misses the mark of Trinitarian Unity. Here, as in so many of the sectors that the New Evangelization addresses, catechesis is paramount as there are a plethora of expressions among all Christians as to the identity of the Divine Persons and the relationship They experience among themselves. In some respects, one may wonder if it is not the fourth century all over again as we struggle to reclaim a proper expression of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Together with a proper Trinitarian catechesis, the present times also call for a renewed study and valuing of Church History. The study of Church History – AND – the Fathers of the Church as well, offer insights as to why and how human nature chose particular paths that lead to division within Christianity. Understanding how we have humanly gotten to where we are today can help at the ‘ecumenical table.’

The interreligious efforts of the Church involve a different methodology. Much remains unknown and distorted among world religions and even among the monotheistic traditions. The Instrumentum Laboris notes geographical shifts in lands that were once dominated by one religious tradition now the place of another. We know in our present times tensions among these groups that erupts in violence and death. Yet there are episodes of respect that offer a glimmer of hope for the eventual cessation of hostility that could lead to productive dialogue among fellow human beings. Once again, a proper study of history – a study punctuated at all times by honesty – can be of immeasurable assistance in an eventual celebration of the oneness of the human family. Consider:

• Where is ecumenism and interreligious dialog on the radar of your life?
• Does your parish promote prayer and efforts to experience the oneness of belief and practice that Jesus prayed for the night before He died?

Week 17, Monday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

70. In addition to mentioning some negative aspects, the responses to the Lineamenta also highlighted how the Christian experience has undoubtedly benefited from the emergence of these sectors. For example, many responses speak of the positive effects of the continuing migration process in the meeting and exchange of gifts among the particular Churches and in the ability to draw energy and vitality from the Christian faith of immigrant communities. Through contact with non-Christians, Christian communities have been able to learn that mission is no longer a North-South or East-West movement. Therefore, we need to go beyond the present geographic confines; mission, today, extends to all five continents. We must recognize that even in traditionally Christian countries, there are sectors and areas foreign to the faith, because in them people have never encountered the faith and not simply as a result of drifting from the Church. Going beyond continental borders means having the energy to raise the question of God in every step of the process of encountering, interchanging and reconstructing social relations which are taking place everywhere. The Synod could be a place for a fruitful exchange of these experiences.
71. The economic sector, with its changes, has also been seen as a favorable place in witnessing to our faith. Many responses described the efforts of many Christian communities on behalf of the poor, an activity which can boast of ancient origins and a fruitfulness which is still very promising. In today’s serious, widespread economic crisis, many responses have mentioned an increase in charitable activity by Christian communities through the establishment of additional institutions dedicated to supporting the poor, and programs within particular Churches to develop a greater awareness of charitable work. Many responses wanted the works of charity to be given greater prominence as an instrument of the new evangelization. The dedication and solidarity of many Christian communities towards the poor, the charitable works in which they are engaged and the simplicity of their life-style in a world which places great emphasis on buying and having, are a particularly beneficial means in proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to our faith. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 70-71)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

To my wórds give éar, O Lórd, give héed to my gróaning. (Psalm 5:2-2, Liturgy of the Hours: Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

O God, protector of those who hope in you,
without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us
and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good things that pass
in such a way as to hold fast even now
to those that ever endure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Today’s selections from the Instrumentum Laboris once again address concerns within the previously examined sectors of life: migration and the economy. In compiling responses from all parts of the world, the document notes positively the contributions of migration and the economy to Christian living. Migration, as a global phenomenon, brings peoples of diverse culture in touch with each other that provides the potential for human life ‘to be more rounded,’ more complete. Obviously for that to work, people must be open to embracing the positive dimensions of other’s culture and above all, to discern how elements in everyone’s culture is at the service of the encounter with the Person, Jesus Christ.

Similarly, the economic sector of life is viewed for its positive contributions, especially in working with the poor. The impact of the global recession and the sputters to rebound have left many people facing tremendous hardship when it comes to the necessities of life. The Instrumentum Laboris notes that many people have ‘stepped up to the plate,’ and are actively engaged in the charitable work of the Church, tending to the needs of all in fidelity to Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 25:31-45).

Consider:

• What challenges do you face in your parish when it comes to welcoming people from other cultures?
• Does your parish actively work to alleviate the burdens of the poor? How can you assist?

Ordinary Time, Sunday 17. Words of the Word.

ANTIPHON

“God is in His holy place, God Who unites those who dwell in His house; He Himself gives might and strength to His people. (Psalm 68:6-7)

COLLECT

O God, protector of those who hope in you,
without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us
and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good things that pass
in such a way as to hold fast even now
to those that ever endure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. (Psalm 145:16).

GOSPEL EXCERPT

After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias]. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs (σημεῖα, semeia) he was performing on the sick (John 6:1-2).
When the people saw the sign (σημεῖον, semeion) he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone (John 6:14-15).

REFLECTION

What is a sign? In 1971 “Signs,” a popular song by Five Man Electrical Band, sung of the plethora of these visible markers as well as in their estimation, the restrictions ‘signs’ attempted to impose on people and life. As we begin listening to the “Bread of Life” discourse in the Gospel according to Saint John this Sunday, we are immediately hit with the reality of “sign,” a term very important in the Johannine Gospel as well as in Sacramental Theology.

In antiquity, σημεῖον (semeion) meant “to mark,” “to indicate” or “to identify.” These meanings suggest that σημεῖον is a reality that ‘hits the senses.’ While we tend to connect “sign” to a visual experience, in the Greco-Roman world of the first century “sign” could be any reality that stimulated the senses. Biblical scholars note that when used throughout the pages of the New Testament, σημεῖον always involves people who then have a responsibility to act in a particular way because of the “sign.”

The difficulty of “sign” is that it is powerless in-and-of-itself to effect (to cause) what it signifies. For example, many are familiar with that red, octagon “sign” that appears on the corner of many intersections: the ‘Stop Sign.’ Of itself, the ‘stop sign’ does not cause a vehicle to stop. The driver must see the sign and decide to act in a way commensurate with the content or message of the sign. In terms of action, the “sign” expresses what is to be done, but it is up to the recipient to do what the sign communicates.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus performs key works that are termed “signs.” The Evangelist John does not use the term “miracle,” a word that comes into the theological vocabulary a bit later. For Saint John, Jesus’ “signs” are sensible realities; they impact the senses. People see what Jesus does. People hear was Jesus says. People taste the bread and the fish that are taken, blessed and given. But what do the people do with this particular “sign” or “signs”? The response to that question is the work of the next 4 Sundays as the “Bread of Life” discourse unfolds, ultimately posing a question – not only to the followers of Jesus in the first century but to us of the twenty-first century as well.

Week 16, Saturday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

68. The responses understood the sectors for what they are: signs of actual change which were seen as the context for the development of our religious experiences. Precisely for this reason, the changes in these sectors need to be taken up and purified, through a process of discernment, in their encountering and experiencing the Christian faith. Examining these sectors permits a critical reading of the way of life, the thinking and the discourses which they espouse and can serve as a self-examination which Christians are called upon to do, to see if the manner of life and the pastoral activity of Christian communities are, in fact, suited to the task and avoiding inactivity by attentively considering the future. Many particular Churches expect the Synod to be an opportune time to continue this discernment. 69. Various responses to the Lineamenta have attempted to identify the reasons for the decline in Christian practice by many of the Church's faithful, a true "silent apostasy", which would leave the Church in a position of not being able to respond adequately and convincingly to the challenges described in these sectors. In this regard, they recount a weakening in the faith of believers, a lack of personal involvement and experience in the transmission of the faith and insufficient spiritual guidance for the faithful in the process of their formative, intellectual and professional training. Many lament the excessive bureaucratic character of ecclesiastical structures, perceived as far removed from the average person and his everyday concerns, which causes a reduction in the dynamism of ecclesial communities, the loss of enthusiasm at its roots and a decline in missionary zeal. Some responses complained of the excessively formal character of liturgical celebrations, an almost routine celebration of rituals and the lack of a deep spiritual experience, which turn people away instead of attracting them. Despite the counter-witness of some of the Church's members (unfaithfulness in one's vocation, scandals, little sensitivity to the problems of everyday people and the world today), we are not to underestimate the "mysterium iniquitatis" (2 Thess 2:7), the war which the Dragon waged on the rest of the offspring of the Woman, on "those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus" (Rev 12:17). An objective evaluation of the situation must always consider the mystery of human freedom, a gift from God, which a person is free to use, even in a mistaken way, to rebel against God and to turn his back on the Church.
The new evangelization should seek to orientate every man and woman's human freedom towards God, who is the source of truth, goodness and beauty. Renewal in faith should help people overcome the previously mentioned obstacles to an authentic Christian life which is patterned according to the will of God, as expressed in the commandment to love God and neighbor (cf. Mk 12:33). (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 68-69)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! (Psalm 84:2, Mass).

COLLECT

Show favor, O Lord, to Your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of Your grace,
that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping Your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The next section of this chapter, “Christians Within These Sectors,” considers specifically the responsibility of each Christian as well as the Christian community in living the Kingdom of God within the previously examined sectors of life. Once again, the calls to discernment and to conversion are essential to provide an authentic response to life in these arenas. It is easy to point fingers of blame elsewhere and miss the work that needs to be done ‘in our backyard (or front yard for that matter!).’ Proper discernment and ongoing daily conversion of heart, mind and body not only equips 1 and all for the tasks of evangelization uniquely entrusted to each, but also insures proper action in addressing the needs of the times.
Paragraph 69 is a gem, sadly, in that it concisely expresses some of the principle reasons why people have left the practice of the Faith: from bureaucracy to scandal and everything (and everyone) in between. The Instrumentum Laboris expresses once again that in order to respond genuinely to the tasks posed by the sectors of human living, we must permit the Spirit to get our lives – individually and ecclesiastically – in order. Only then will be have the strength and credibility to be agents of change for the healing and building up of the Kingdom of God in our midst.
Consider:

• The summary causes of people leaving the practice of the Faith in paragraph 69 leave many with an overwhelming feeling that I as an individual believer can do nothing. Since each has been initiation into the Mysteries of Faith, each is equipped with the necessary talents, skills and abilities given as gifted-grace by the Holy Spirit. What graces of talent, time and treasury have you been given to engage the work of the New Evangelization?

Week 16, Thursday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

65. Many responses, however, have voiced a concern about the naive and emotional character of this return to a sense of religion. Instead of being a gradual and complex development in a person's search for truth, the return to religion, in many cases, has not been a very liberating experience. Consequently, the positive aspects of rediscovering God and the sacred are viewed as impoverished and obscured by a fundamentalism which frequently manipulates religion to justify acts of violence and, in extreme but fortunately limited cases, even terrorism.
66. According to the responses, this is the framework for treating the pressing problem of the proliferation of new religious groups which can be likened to sects. In this regard, they repeatedly cite the contention in the Lineamenta that these groups exercise an emotional and psychological dominance and promote a religion promising prosperity and success in life. At the same time, some responses state that the situation needs to be carefully watched so that Christian communities will not allow themselves to be influenced by these new forms of religious experience and give in to the temptation to imitate their aggressive, proselytizing methods, instead of following the Christian approach to proclaiming the Gospel. On the other hand, the responses insist that Christian communities need to approach proclaiming the Gospel and providing pastoral care in the faith in such a way that the presence of these religious groups could serve as a means for these Christian communities to become more zealous and prepared to work towards giving individuals a sense of meaning in their lives.

67. This situation gives even greater meaning to the Church's encounters and dialogue with the great religious traditions which have grown over the decades and continue to intensify. These encounters are a promising opportunity to better perceive the complexity of the vocabulary and forms of the element of religion in humanity as seen in other religious experiences. Such encounters and dialogue also allow Catholics better to understand the ways in which the Christian faith expresses the religious nature of the human soul. At the same time, they enrich the religious heritage of humanity with the unique character of the Christian faith. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 65-67)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. (Psalm 36:10, Mass).

COLLECT

Show favor, O Lord, to Your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of Your grace,
that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping Your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

For some who found the previous day’s discussion about religious revival interesting, today’s selections concerning the religious sector should put things into better perspective. “The return to religion, in many cases, has not been a very liberating experience” is a most telling statement. Similar to points raised earlier in the Instrumentum Laboris as well as in the Lineamenta, there is danger in the ongoing conversion experience when the intellect is not part of that experience. Not long ago, for example, a few people in different venues told me that I had to read ‘this book’ – a somewhat popular novel that sounded much like the Holy Trinity in the minds of these readers. I read the book and grasped a possible reasoning for the connections between the novel and the Holy Trinity. When I saw the group at a later date, I recommend some other titles, gems of the Christian Catholic theological and spiritual tradition. Even though these folks had never read the books I suggested, one immediately opined, “I’ll never understand it. They are way over my head and give me too much information.” Again, that statement was made without reading so much as a word from the titles I suggested.

Consider:

• Why do you think there is an aversion to any solid study of Catholic Theology?
• Why do so many choose to leave the intellect out of any approach to Christian living?

Week 16, Tuesday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

63. By necessity, the changes treated up to this point influence the way people express their sense of religion. The Lineamenta responses recommended adding religion as a seventh sector, thereby providing the means to more thoroughly understand, in many different cultures, the return of a religious sense and the need for various forms of spirituality, especially among the young. Even though the present process of secularization is leading to a weakened sense of the spiritual in many persons and an emptiness of heart, many regions of the world are showing signs of a significant religious revival. This phenomenon has an impact on the Catholic Church herself in providing resources and opportunities for evangelization which were not present a few decades ago.
64. The responses to the Lineamenta gave particular attention to this growing phenomenon, acknowledging both its complex character and undoubtedly positive aspects. In fact, the situation provides the opportunity to restore an element which is part of the human identity, namely religion, thereby going beyond the limitations and impoverishment of an idea of a person viewed only from a horizontal perspective. This phenomenon fosters religious experience and re-establishes its centrality in people's minds, in history, and in the meaning of life itself and the search for truth. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 63-64)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

Lord, show us your mercy and love. (Psalm 85:8, Mass).

COLLECT

Show favor, O Lord, to Your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of Your grace,
that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping Your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Five paragraphs address the “Religious Sector,” a sector not found in the Lineamenta but added to the Instrumentum Laboris based on global responses to the Lineamenta. While some might be shocked to read “many regions of the world are showing signs of a significant revival,” such a revival – wherever it is happening – is an indicator of the emptiness of secularism and narcissism. The human spirit cannot thrive on crass materialism and life lived according to the anthem, ‘I did it my way.’ The Instrumentum Laboris notes particularly the revival of a religious sense among young people. Ask anyone who has any contact with youth involved in Kairos retreats, World Youth Day or similar activities and you will hear joy-filled reports about the vitality and enthusiasm of faith. The Instrumentum Laboris sees this as an “opportunity to restore an element which is part of the human identity, namely religion, thereby going beyond the limitations and impoverishment of an idea of a person viewed only from a horizontal perspective.”

Consider:

• Do you see a ‘religious revival’ happening in ‘your neck of the woods?’
• With ‘religion’ popularly blasted for causing division in society, how can the Church help people to experience the ‘religious sense’ as a constitutive element of human identity?

Week 16, Monday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

61. The Church is engaged in these areas created by the media and has, from the very beginning, utilized these means as a useful way to proclaim the Gospel. Today, in addition to the more traditional means of communication, especially the printed word and radio, which, according to the responses, have moderately increased in recent years, new media are increasingly becoming a major factor in the Church's ministry of evangelization, making interaction possible at various levels: local, national, continental and global. The potential for using both old and new media is clear, as is the need to take advantage of this newly created social space and introduce the vocabulary and forms of the Christian tradition. An attentive and shared discernment process is needed not only to better assess the possibilities of their use in proclaiming the Gospel, but also to understand properly the risks and dangers involved.
62. Indeed, the spread of the culture created by communications undoubtedly brings many benefits. Among them are: a greater access to information; more opportunities for knowledge and dialogue; new forms of solidarity; and the ability to foster an increasingly global culture which leads to a shared heritage of values and the better development of thought and human activity. This potential, however, does not eliminate the dangers inherent in the excessive diffusion of such a culture. Their effects are already being manifested in a deeply, self-centred attentiveness to individual needs only, and an exaltation of emotion in relationships and social ties, thus leading to a diminution and loss of the objective value of deeply human experiences, such as meditation and silence. It equally is leading to an excess in holding to one's individual thinking and a gradual reduction of ethics and civic life to appearance only. These dangers might eventually result in a so-called culture which is short-lived, immediately gratifying and based on mere appearance or a society incapable of looking to either the past or the future. In such a situation, Christians must be bold in entering these "new areopaghi", learning to evaluate them in light of the Gospel and finding the instruments and methods to ensure that, even in these places, the educational patrimony and the wisdom guarded by Christian Tradition is heard today. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 61-62)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

To the upright I will show the saving power of God. (Psalm 50:23, Mass).

COLLECT

Show favor, O Lord, to Your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of Your grace,
that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping Your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

When engaged with various groups discussing the Lineamenta, there were occasions when participants responded to statements with a respectful chuckle, a confused countenance or even an inquisitive and drawn-out “What?” Case in point: “The Church is engaged in these areas [communication] by the media and has, from the very beginning, utilized these means as a useful way to proclaim the Gospel.” I know a a good number of people, after reading this statement, said “Really?” At least in terms of their experience, some of the declarative statements in the Lineamenta and now in the Instrumentum Laboris as to what the Church is doing do not necessarily reflect reality in one’s particular geographical locale of Church. Others commented that when the Church would use some of these communication resources, they did not seek good input from acknowledged experts in the area and approached the task akin to ‘reinventing the wheel’ paying little to no regard to those who could contribute talent and thus make the Church’s use of technology more credible. Others mentioned that a attitude of minimalism exists even in the Church - 'just throw something up on the web, and that will be good enough' without any regard for the effectiveness of the project.

The task for credible and up-to-date use of communication technology is most urgent. Fr. Robert Barron, author of the famed Catholicism Series, has repeatedly noted that ‘others are telling OUR story’ and obviously when they do so, any reference or content of Gospel Truth is purely accidental. News travels at such speed today that if we as Church are not voicing Truth on a particular situation immediately, the spin-machines of contemporary media are already churning out a message. We end up behind the proverbial 8-ball not only trying to proclaim Truth, but to counter the destructive spin that is presented with all sorts of bling and glitz packaged into exceptionally short sound bites that most often are an affront to the human intellect. We need to take charge of OUR story and get that story out in all of its Truth AND liberating peace-filled joy! Our story is NOT the “gospel of no you can’t” (as is often portrayed) but the story of the encounter with the Person Jesus Christ Who came that we might have life and have it to the full ...  AND .. Who calls us to daily sacrificial conversion!

Consider:

• Like so many recommendations in the Lineamenta and Instrumentum Laboris, people nod their heads - 'Yes! we need to do this... or that... Let's have a meeting to discuss (and we all know the results). Without being simplistic, how do we as a Church effectively communicate the Person Jesus Christ in our world today?
• How do we 'baptize' the Internet and use it credibly when resources for so many vital ministries of the Church are drying up?

Week 16, Sunday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

59. The Lineamenta responses also made note of communications, the sixth sector, which provide great opportunities today and, at the same time, represent a major challenge for the Church. Initially, communications was a characteristic of the industrialized world only. However, in today's globalized world, this sector also affects a vast number of developing countries. Every place on the globe, bar none, can be reached by communications, and is therefore subject to the influence of the electronic and media culture. These media are fast becoming the "forum" of civic life and social experience, which is sufficiently illustrated in the widespread use of the internet.
60. The responses refer to the generally-held belief that, today, the new digital technologies have given rise to an entirely new social space where the connections created have the potential of influencing society and culture. The media process, resulting from these technologies, is having an impact on people's lives and is changing reality itself by incisively entering into people's experiences and widening human potential. Our perception of self, others and the world are influenced by them. Communication technologies and the space created by them must therefore be viewed positively, without prejudice, as a resource which requires a discerning eye and a wise and responsible employment. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 59-60)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. (Psalm 23:1, Mass).

COLLECT

Show favor, O Lord, to Your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of Your grace,
that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping Your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The Instrumentum Laboris treats the sixth sector in a section of its own entitled, “The New Frontier of the Communications’ Sector.” Only the cultural sector received as much attention in the Instrumentum Laboris. The familiar language of “opportunity” and “challenge” colors points surfaced from the global input to the Lineamentum of 2011. Noting that the reality of communication is no longer the domain of the industrialized nations, the internet has made electronic and media culture a way of life among the richest and poorest people of the planet, although it must be acknowledged that not all people have equal access to these means of communication. This electronic and media culture not only impacts life, but widens people’s experiences and potential as noted by the Instrumentum Laboris. One can recall, as only 1 example of many, the non-violent revolution in the Middle East (Spring 2011) effected in large part due to electronic and digital communication. In the end, “communication technologies” are viewed a positive resource, yet a resource requiring the often heard call in the Instrumentum Laboris of discernment.

Consider:

• How does the Instrumentum Laboris' statement, "Communication technologies and the space created by them must therefore be viewed positively, without prejudice, as a resource which requires a discerning eye and a wise and responsible employment" sit with you?

Week 15, Saturday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

57. The fourth sector is civic life. From the time of the Second Vatican Council to the present, the changes which have occurred in this sector can rightly be called momentous. The division of the western world into two blocks ended with the fall of the Communist ideology, leading to religious freedom and the possibility of reorganizing the Churches of ancient origin. The emergence on the world stage of new economic, political and religious actors from the Islamic and Asian worlds has created an entirely new and unknown situation, rich in potential, but fraught with dangers and new temptations for dominion and power. Many responses have highlighted a variety of urgent situations in this sector, namely, a commitment to peace; the development and liberation of peoples; better international regulation and interaction of national governments; the search for possible areas of listening, coexistence, dialogue and collaboration between different cultures and religions; the defence of human rights and peoples, especially minorities; the promotion of the most vulnerable; and the integrity of creation and a commitment to the future of our planet. Various particular Churches are engaged in dealing with these issues, which are being diligently pursued and fostered in the daily life of our communities.
58. The fifth sector is scientific research and technology. We live in an age that still marvels at the wonders of the continuing achievements which result from research in these fields. Each day, we have the possibility of experiencing the benefits of these advances and are increasingly becoming dependent upon them. Inherent in the many positive aspects is the danger of excessive expectations and manipulation. Today, science and technology run the risk of becoming the new idols of the present. In a digitalized and globalized world, science can easily become "our new religion". New forms of gnosis are arising which make technology a form of wisdom where an almost magical approach to life leads to concepts of "knowing" and "meaning", as witnessed in the rise of new cults, which exploit the religious practices of healing, readily followed by people, and are structured as religions promising prosperity and instant gratification. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 57-58)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

Do not forget the poor, O Lord! (Psalm 10:12, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the Name of Christ
and to strive after all that does It honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Changes that are too numerous to catalog and changes that are described as momentous characterize the Instrumentum Laboris’ treatment of the fourth sector: civic life. It is hard to keep abreast of all the developments occurring in societies throughout the word. Yet if that were not enough, the changes occurring in civil life bring a host of opportunities, challenges and questions that border on the infinite and, as such, risk imposing such an enormity on the human person that people may be tempted to avoid dealing with any challenge in the civic arena. This situation suggests that recapturing the dignity of the human person as created in the image and likeness of God is both urgent and key to address and to respond to any challenge in this sector as well as the technological sector.

Consider:

• How can the momentous changes in civic life preserve and enhance the dignity of the human person?
• With the unprecedented growth in technology and its use, what steps need to be taken in each person's life to 'humanize' the digital revolution?

Week 15, Friday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

55. The initial sector of culture is followed by the social sector and the treatment of the phenomenon of the great migration which is causing an increasing number of people to leave their country of origin to live in urban settings, resulting in a meeting and mixing of cultures and contributing to the erosion of basic reference points to life, values and the very bonds through which people build their identity and come to know the meaning of life. Joined to the spread of secularization, this process causes a situation of extreme cultural liquidity, which increasingly leaves less room for long-standing traditions, including religious ones. Linked to this sector is the social phenomenon called "globalization", a not-too-easily-understood reality which requires an intense work of discernment by the Christian. At times, this phenomenon carries a negative connotation, when it is seen as inevitable and linked to the economy and production. However, it can also be viewed as a time of growth, in which humanity can learn to develop new forms of solidarity and new ways of sharing development for the good of all.
56. The responses to the Lineamenta refer to a third sector, associated with the subject of migration, which is becoming more and more incisive in society: the economy. In great part a direct cause of migration, the economy is highlighted for the tensions and forms of violence related to it, and the inequality it causes within and among nations. Many responses, not simply those from developing countries, decried a clear and decisive increase in the separation between the rich and the poor. On innumerable occasions, papal magisterium has denounced the growing imbalance between the North and South in the access to and distribution of resources, as well as the damage done to creation. Today's continuing economic crisis is characterized by the problem of the use of both human and natural resources. Particular Churches are invited to live the evangelical ideal of poverty and are expected to do still more in terms of awareness and concrete activity, even if the media does not give sufficient coverage to them. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 55-56)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. (Psalm 102:20, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the Name of Christ
and to strive after all that does It honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Social migration and the economy are the next sectors of life examined in the light of the New Evangelization. Certainly there is nothing ‘new’ about social migration and the economy: these have been part of human living from the very beginning. What marks the ‘new’ dimension of these sectors is the speed and depth of their affect on human living.

Consider:

• Is it sufficient to simply ‘name’ the difficulties associated with the sectors of social migration and the economy? Must the New Evangelization grapple with the causes?

Week 15, Wednesday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

53. This subdued tone, which gives secularization its charm and seductive character, has also enabled it to enter the lives of Christians and Church communities, becoming not just an external threat to believers, but one inherent to everyday life. Traces of a secular understanding of life are seen in the habitual behavior of many Christians. The "death of God" proclaimed by many intellectuals in recent decades has given way to an unproductive, hedonistic and consumer mentality, which leads to a highly superficial manner in facing life and responsibility. In this way, faith runs the real risk of losing its fundamental elements. The influence of secularization in daily life makes it increasingly difficult to affirm the existence of truth, which, realistically speaking, eliminates the question of God from a person's examination of self. To respond to religious needs, persons revert to individualistic forms of spirituality or forms of neo-paganism to the point of forcibly spreading a general climate of relativism.
54. These dangers, however, must not overshadow the positive things which Christianity has learned from secularization. The saeculum is where believers and non-believers interact and share in a common humanity. This human element is the natural point for faith to enter and, consequently, can become the privileged place for evangelization. In the fully human nature of Jesus of Nazareth dwells the fullness of the deity (cf. Col 2:9). Purifying the human through the human nature of Jesus of Nazareth, Christians can create an encounter with people who exhibit a secularized mentality but continue to question what is really and truly human. Encountering these people in search of truth can help Christians purify and develop their faith. The inner struggle of people in search of truth, though not yet possessing the gift of faith, is a real incentive for us in our duty to live and witness to the faith, so that the true face of God can be seen by every person. In this regard, the responses showed great interest in the initiative of the "Courtyard of the Gentiles". (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 53-54)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

The Lord will not abandon his people. (Psalm 94:15, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the Name of Christ
and to strive after all that does It honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

‘Charming and seducing’ describe secularization in the Instrumentum Laboris. Both words help to explain why secularism is so difficult to battle because each has more than a passing appeal to those areas of life that have yet to be fully configured to the sacrifical selflessness of Jesus Christ. Worse still is the fact that since the Church and Her members are in the world (not of the world) secularism has managed to sink deep tentacles into ecclesial life that have caused scandal leading people to ask, ‘Is there any difference between the Church and the world?’ It does not help when institutionally the Church chooses ways of decision making that have more in common with a Fortune 500 company than the Gospel.

Consider:

• Given secularism’s charming and seducing characteristics, how can the Church credibly speak to secularism’s dangers for the human person and human community?

Week 15, Monday. Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

51. The duty of the new evangelization compels the Church to examine the way Christian communities both live and bear witness to the faith today. In doing so, the new evangelization now becomes discernment or the ability to read and decipher the new sectors which have emerged in human history in the last decade, so that, in turn, they might be turned into places for proclaiming the Gospel and experiencing the Church. Once again, the magisterium of Pope John Paul II has shown the way by first providing a description of the sectors of the new evangelization, which were used in composing the Lineamenta and were further discussed and substantiated in the responses. These sectors include cultures, society, economics, civic life and religion.
52. Given its importance, the cultural sector was seen as a priority. Broadly treated in the preceding paragraphs, the cultural sector was mentioned in many responses as the place where secularizing trends are taking place at a rapid pace. Prevalent in a particular way in the West, secularization is the result of certain social and philosophical happenings and movements, which have had a profound effect on its history and identity. Secularization is wrongly perceived in our cultures today as a sign of liberation and the capability of envisaging life in this world, and human life in general, without any reference to the transcendent. In recent years, secularization has not assumed the form of publically or directly speaking out against God, religion and Christianity, despite the fact that, in some instances, it can oftentimes have an anti-Christian, anti-religious and anti-clerical tone, even in these times. Many responses indicate that the rather subdued tone in secularization has allowed this cultural form to invade people's daily lives to the point that some have developed a mentality in which God is effectively absent, in whole or in part, and his very existence dependent on human consciousness. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 51-52)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

To the upright I will show the saving power of God. (Psalm 50:23, Mass).

COLLECT

May the venerable intercession of the
glorious Virgin Mary come to our aid,
we pray, O Lord, so that,
fortified by her protection,
we may reach the mountain which is Christ.
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

“The Sectors of the New Evangelization,” 5 in number in the Instrumentum Laboris, are examined over the course of 8 paragraphs in this section. In reviewing today’s selection, one might ask: ‘what is new about these realities?’ Has not human history always had to deal with realities opposing the religious and spiritual dimensions of life? Permit a crystal clear answer: yes in the sense of no; no in the sense of yes. Clear? Perhaps not. Concerns regarding “cultures, society, economics, civic life and religion” color the pages of human history and at times particular sectors even vividly adorn and impose on life a direction that minimally is not friendly to the Sacred. What makes the present situation ‘new’ is the speed, almost incomprehensible at times, that these sectors influence and cause change in life.

Consider:

• Might a renewed cultivation of contemplative prayer among ALL the faithful help to slow life so as to know whether life’s direction is ordered towards the Person, Jesus Christ?
• Are there any good dimensions to life’s rapid pace?

Ordinary Time, 15. Words of the Word

ANTIPHON

“As for me, in justice I shall behold Your Face; I shall be filled with the vision of Your glory. (Psalm 17:15)

COLLECT

O God, Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the Name of Christ
and to strive after all that does It honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:8).

GOSPEL EXCERPT

Jesus summoned (προσκαλεῖται, proskaleitai) the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority (ἐξουσίαν, exousian) over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance (ἐκήρυξαν ἵνα μετανοῶσιν, ekeruxan hina metavoosin). The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mark 6:7-13).”

REFLECTION

On the heels of rejection by family and friends in His native place, what does Jesus do? In a style characteristic of the Evangelist Mark, Jesus wasted no time and “summoned ((προσκαλεῖται, proskaleitai)” the Twelve to Him. While an image certainly comes to mind with the English verb “summoned,” προσκαλέω (proskaleo) also expresses an invitation ‘to join-in or to share-in the life of another.’ Throughout the pages of Sacred Scripture, προσκαλέω (proskaleo) is also employed to express the blessings of salvation. But this ‘joining-in,’ ‘sharing-in’ or salvation is given as a call and as a gift. The recipient is not the initiator of the action, only the gracious beneficiary. There is no grabbing or grasping here only hands open in the quintessential posture of peace, emptiness and offering.

Such an attitude enables Jesus’ to give and the Twelve to receive His “authority (ἐξουσίαν, exousian).” In the Greek world ἐξουσία (exousia) was used frequently in government contexts, expressing a proper power and control that government and its leaders possessed in order to rule over people and act in a way that was proper to officials. On the lips of Jesus ἐξουσία (exousia) is certainly a power but it expresses much more. In terms of power proper to a person, ἐξουσία (exousia) grounds the power ‘from within.’ ἐξουσία (exousia) is not a credential or technique that Jesus acquired through months of preparation and study. ἐξουσία (exousia) – literally “from the being (or as I am more fond of, ‘from the gut’)” – conveys a confidence and conviction born of trusting and knowing (cf. the Marcan Gospel episodes from the previous 2 weeks) the Other - His Father. Jesus’ “authority” lies not in being a ‘self-made man,’ His authority is anchored in the relationship He experiences with His Father. It is ‘out-of’ or from this relationship, often nourished in the desert (cf. next week’s Gospel episode) that Jesus acts. No wonder the Twelve needed nothing – with Jesus’ ἐξουσία what more could anyone want?

So why give the Twelve ἐξουσία? Simply it is for the purpose of the Twelve doing what Jesus does. Jesus enables the Twelve to act as He does for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Thus after an additional instruction or two, the six pairs go out with Jesus’ ἐξουσία and they “preached repentance.” Permit some dissecting of “preached” and “repentance.”

The Greek verb κηρύσσω (kerysso, ‘to cry aloud,’ ‘to announce’) has roots in the world of public Greek games. In that setting, image what it would take to be heard? The act of announcing, κηρύσσω, minimally required a powerful voice capable of being heard above the din of the crowd. Interestingly in the Greek world of antiquity, the person capable of κηρύσσω and doing it well became an important person in the community, occupying a prestigious social position. κηρύσσω is not so much about ‘screaming’ as it is about ‘being heard in the midst of other voices.’ While the New Testament certainly makes use of κηρύσσω in various passages, it is the action of κηρύσσω that is paramount, not the person doing the announcing, the basis of the Christian ministerial quip, ‘it is all about the Message, not the messenger.’ The point here is that κηρύσσω, especially in its original usage, is a very vibrant and dynamic word used to express the vitality of an essential message. We may be lulled into an image of preaching that is boring, monotone, blah-blah-blah, yada-yada-yada, but κηρύσσω says otherwise.

So what is the content of the κηρύσσω? The translation says “repentance.” The Greek here is once again very important as the text reads: “(ἵνα μετανοῶσιν, hina metavoosin).” The translation presents the noun “repentance” but the original Greek presents this as a verb – and it does so in a ‘hina clause.’ The Greek ἵνα (hina) is used to express purpose, ordering or direction. Actions that are the object of ἵνα are about results that are either desired or effected, in other words actions that may or may not happen. The key here is that we are talking about action, action, action – and – actions that have, by definition, outcomes one way or another. But when it comes to μετανοια (metanoia, click here for a previous blog entry on the topic of metanoia), the outcome action is partially dependent upon the will of the listener.

Thus, the Evangelist Saint Mark captures Jesus calling the Twelve to Himself to join-in and to share-in His Mission. He gives each His confident, convicted gut-level being to go forth and to speak through the noise of the day in such a way that the listeners will permit a radical and ongoing conversion in their lives to live the Kingdom of God. In doing so, we get some very concrete insights for pastoral ministry today, particularly in the arena of preaching. Ask any person on a given Sunday what a homily is and the responses will be as varied as the number of people queried. In equipping the Twelve with His ἐξουσία, we know that preaching today as in the days of Jesus’ Public Ministry demands the encounter with Jesus that sparks new relational living (a key element of the New Evangelization) so that one thinks, speaks and acts ‘from the gut’ with the mind, heart and gut of Jesus. The act of preaching requires Spirit and humanly formed art and technique to be heard through the cacophony of society with a clear view in mind that this announcing is ordered to the ongoing radial conversion of body, mind and heart; the continuous turning from the selfish addiction of sin to the Face of the Living God.

Week 15, Sunday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

48. The effects of such a negative environment on experiencing the faith and on the various forms of ecclesial life are generally described in the same manner in all the responses, namely, a weakening of faith in Christian communities, a diminished regard for the authority of the magisterium, an individualistic approach to belonging to the Church, a decline in religious practice and a disengagement in transmitting the faith to new generations. These effects, found in almost every bishops' conference response, indicate that the whole Church cannot overlook this cultural climate.
49. In this regard, the new evangelization takes the form of an appeal, a question which the Church raises about herself, so that she might muster her spiritual energy and be determined in this new cultural setting to take a clear and active role by acknowledging whatever is good in these new areas, while giving renewed vitality to her faith and her duty to evangelize. The adjective “new” refers to a cultural situation which has changed and the need for the Church, with renewed energy, determination, resourcefulness and newness, to look at the way she lives and transmits the faith. The responses indicate that this appeal has been taken to heart in a variety of ways in many areas of the Church, but not without a certain concern. They seem to show that many Christian communities have not fully perceived the challenge and the magnitude of the crisis generated by this cultural environment, even within the Church. In this regard, synodal discussion can assist in raising, in a timely, in-depth manner, an awareness of the seriousness of the challenges we are facing. Furthermore, the Synod can also take up the phenomenon of secularization, assessing both its positive and negative influences on Christianity and the challenges it poses for the Christian faith.
50. Not all indications, however, are negative. Indeed, efforts taking place in many Churches towards renewal are a sign of hope and a gift of the Holy Spirit. These Christian communities, most often religious groups and ecclesial movements, and in some cases, theological and cultural institutions, demonstrate by their activities, the real possibility of living the Christian faith through the proclamation of the Gospel, even within this cultural setting. Among these experiences, the particular Churches note, with gratitude and concern, the many young people who contribute a certain newness and enthusiasm to these groups. In acknowledging their many gifts, these same Churches are working to ensure that these gifts are extended throughout the Christian population, and attentively are following their duty of nurturing this experience, from a relatively early age, and, at the same time, highlighting both its strong points and its limitations. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 48-50)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

The LORD is king, with majesty enrobed. The LORD has robed himself with might; he has girded himself with power. (Psalm 93:1, Liturgy of the Hours: Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

O God, Who show the light of Your truth
to those who go astray,
so that they may return to the right path,
give all who for the faith they profess
are accounted Christians
the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the Name of Christ
and to strive after all that does It honor.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Today’s 3 paragraphs bring the section “The Question of a “New Evangelization”” to a close. In doing so, the Instrumentum Laboris notes practical unanimity among the world’s episcopal conferences in citing challenges facing the Church: “a weakening of faith in Christian communities, a diminished regard for the authority of the magisterium, an individualistic approach to belonging to the Church, a decline in religious practice and a disengagement in transmitting the faith to new generations.” Sadly, the Instrumentum Laboris also notes the ‘head-in-the-sand’ approach to these problems as “many Christian communities have not fully perceived the challenge and the magnitude of the crisis generated by this cultural environment, even within the Church.” But at the same time the Instrumentum Laboris reports areas in the Church where signs of hope are fueling renewal, particularly among young people.

Consider:

• Why do you think some parts of the Church have not perceived the “challenge and magnitude of the crisis”?
• How can parishes balance ‘life-as-usual’/‘need-to-meet-the-needs-of-today’ approach with the demands of the New Evangelization?

Week 14, Saturday. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

45. What is the "new evangelization?" Blessed Pope John Paul II, in his first discourse to the bishops of Latin America, sanctioned and defined the term which received great resonance in the Church: “The commemoration of this half of the millennium of evangelization will achieve its full meaning, if as bishops, with your priests and faithful, you accept it as your commitment; a commitment, not of re-evangelization, but rather of a new evangelization; new in its ardor, methods and expression.” Some time later, at a different time, addressing the Church in Europe, the Pontiff made a similar appeal, emphasizing "the urgent need for a 'new evangelization', in the awareness that 'Europe today must not simply appeal to its former Christian heritage: it needs to be able to decide about its future in conformity with the person and message of Jesus Christ'."
46. In its initial stage, the new evangelization responds to a demand that the Church have the courage to rise to the occasion in order to take bold steps in revitalizing her spiritual and missionary vocation. Christian communities, affected by the strong social and cultural changes taking place, need once again to find the energy and means to ground themselves solidly in the presence of the Risen Christ, who animates them from within. They must allow themselves to be guided by his Spirit so that they can newly experience the gift of communion with the Father which is theirs in Jesus Christ, and, in turn, offer to others this same experience as the most precious gift that can be possessed. 47. Responses to the Lineamenta were in accord with the words of Pope John Paul II. In addressing the specific question — "what is the new evangelization?" — many overwhelmingly indicated that the new evangelization is precisely the Church's ability to renew her communal experience of faith and to proclaim it within the new situations which, in recent decades, have arisen in cultures. The same phenomenon is taking place in both the North and South and the East and West; in both countries with an age-old Christian tradition and countries which have been evangelized within the last few centuries. The coalescing of social and cultural factors — conventionally designated by the term "globalization" — has initiated a process which is weakening traditions and institutions and thereby rapidly eroding both social and cultural ties as well as their ability to communicate values and provide answers to perennial questions regarding life's meaning and the truth. The result is a significant fragmentation of cultural unity and a culture's inability to hold fast to the faith and live the values inspired by it. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 45-47)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name through all the earth!. (Psalm 8:2, Liturgy of the Hours: Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

O God, Who desired the Virgin Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
to flower among Native Americans in a life of innocence,
grant, through her intercession,
that when all are gathered into your Church
from every nation, tribe and tongue,
they may magnify you in a single canticle of praise.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The next section entitled “The Question of a “New Evangelization,”” gets at an important question: just what is the “New Evangelization?” Papal teaching is quite clear that what makes the New Evangelization “new” is essentially its pastoral methodology expressed in the Instrumentum Laboris as “ardor, methods and expression.” The Who and What of evangelization remains unchanged: the Person, Jesus Christ. “How” He is proclaimed constitutes the newness of evangelization in our times. This is not something new for the sake of new: it is to address the alarming, painful and urgent situation in our Church – many have left the practice of the faith. Remedying the situation is not about forming another committee, sitting through interminable meetings and developing programs. These activities often produce nothing except more bureaucracy, reams of reports and frustration. Paragraph 46 suggests that an initial step involves recapturing both the spiritual and missionary elements of ecclesial life, followed by ‘de-fragging’ the divisions that have moved into life and culture and have eroded the sense of the Sacred (paragraph 47).

Consider:

• As an individual believer grounded in the life of Christ and His Body the Church, how can you foster both the spiritual and missionary elements of life?
• What cultural fragmentation do you deal with in life? How will a spiritual and missionary vision of life heal that fragmentation?

Week 14, Thursday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

43. The causes of the social changes which we have witnessed in recent decades are complex, tracing their origins far back in time and radically affecting our perception of the world. The positive aspects of these changes are visible to all and are seen as invaluable contributions which have permitted the development of human culture and increased knowledge in many fields. However, these changes have also caused many to take a critical look at values and some fundamental aspects of daily life which deeply affect people's faith. In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI stated: "If on the one hand humanity has derived undeniable benefits from these changes, and the Church has drawn from them further incentives for bearing witness to the hope that is within her (cf. 1 Pt 3:15), on the other hand, there has been a troubling loss of the sense of the sacred, which has even called into question foundations once deemed unshakeable, such as faith in a provident creator God, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the one Saviour, and a common understanding of basic human experiences: i.e., birth, death, life in a family, and reference to a natural moral law. Even though some consider these things a kind of liberation, there soon follows an awareness that an interior desert results, whenever the human being, wishing to be the sole architect of his nature and destiny, finds himself deprived of that which is the very foundation of all things."
44. This critical situation in society — and also in the Christian life — demands a response. At this special moment in history, the Church needs to see how to muster greater energy in rendering an account for the hope we share (cf. 1 Pet 3:15). The term "new evangelization" calls for a new manner of proclaiming the Gospel, especially for those who live in the present-day situation which is affected by the growing trend of secularization, taking place to a great extent in countries with a Christian tradition. With this in mind, the idea of a new evangelization has come to term in the Church and has been implemented in a great variety of ways in an ongoing study up to now about its precise meaning. Initially, the new evangelization was primarily viewed as a necessity, then as a work of discernment and finally as an impetus for the Church in our times. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 43 and 44)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

O shepherd of Israel, hear us, You who lead Joseph like a flock: enthroned on the cherubim, shine forth upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh. Rouse up your might and come to save us. (Psalm 80:2-3, Liturgy of the Hours, Morning Prayer).

COLLECT

O God, Who in the abasement of Your Son
have raised up a fallen world,
fill Your faithful with holy joy,
for on those You have rescued from slavery to sin
You bestow eternal gladness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

The final paragraphs of “Time for a New Evangelization” begin on a balanced note concerning advances in contemporary society. While acknowledging complex factors that have shaped current culture, the Instrumentum Laboris notes elements of cultural advancement that have contributed to both society and Church alike. One might ponder, though, whether the ‘cost’ of such advancement is worth the loss of the sacred and the escalating secularism that bellows an odious narcissism aggressively attempting to redefine fundamental realities of the natural order.

Consider:

• Pope Benedict spoke about an “interior desert” that forms when humanity seeks to be the architect of her or his destiny. How can the Church help all people to discover “the interior desert”?

Week 14, Saint Benedict. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

41. The missionary mandate which the Church received from the Risen Lord (cf. Mk 16:15) has assumed new forms and methods over time, depending on the places and situations where it was realized and various moments in history. Even though proclaiming the Gospel in our day is much more complicated than in the past, the Church's task is one and the same as from the very beginning. Since the mission has not changed, it can be rightly said that we can make our own, even today, the enthusiasm and courage which characterized the Apostles and early disciples. The Holy Spirit, who moved them to throw open the doors of the Cenacle and sent them forth as evangelizers (cf. Acts 2: 1-4), is the same Spirit who guides the Church today and prompts a renewed proclamation of hope to the people of our time.
42. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that “groups among which the Church dwells are often radically changed, for one reason or other, so that an entirely new set of circumstances may arise.” With far-reaching perception, the Council Fathers saw on the horizon the cultural change we readily witness today. This change, which has created an unexpected situation for believers, requires special attention in proclaiming the Gospel, if we are to render an account of our faith in the present situation which, unlike in the past, has a variety of new and important aspects. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 41 and 42)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

Seek always the face of the Lord. (Psalm 105:4, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict
an outstanding master in the school of divine service,
grant, we pray, that, putting nothing before love of you,
we may hasten with a loving heart in the way of your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

We have made our way through the first chapter of the Instrumentum Laboris and before plunging into the challenges of the second chapter, it is vital to take with us the central hermeneutic of the Synod: the personal encounter with Jesus Christ in Word and Sacrament that forms a relationship with Him in His Body, the Church summoning each and all to conversion and faith.

In groups of people who have been prayerfully reflecting and studying the Lineamenta, it is interesting to note how Catholic Christians (and indeed all Christian) understand the theological vocabulary. It seems that when Catholics open the ‘Catholic Lexicon’ to a particular word, we only read the first entry, ignoring meaning 2, 3 or 4 – all of which are valid AND necessary for a grasp of the Faith that is engaging and sparks a desire to “full, active and conscious participation” in the life of Jesus.

Case in point: the Instrumentum Laboris references Jesus’ “missionary mandate” at the outset of chapter 2. The difficulty is that most Catholics understand anything connected with “missionary” to mean ‘missionary people working is a distant, normally poor, country.’ ‘Missionary work’ is a work that special people in the Church do, not me. The Gospel certainly views “mission” in a very broad and encompassing vision and does so in a way that recognizes the need to adapt and ‘tweak’ our faith expressions as needed for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to speak to the signs of the times.

Consider:

• Theological words have rich and deep meanings. How can we as a Church help our members to grasp the urgency and necessity of ongoing faith development?
• How do I understand Jesus’ “Missionary Mandate?” Is there a need for “missionary work” in the geography of my life?

Week 14, Tuesday. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

DAILY SEQUENTIAL EXCERPTS from The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith – Instrumentum Laboris:

39. What is so painstakingly described in the beginning of the Church has sometimes reoccurred in her history. On many occasions, a weakening of ferver in one's relationship with Christ has adversely affected the caliber of the life of faith and the experience of participating in the Trinitarian life, which is bound to it. For this reason, we cannot forget that the proclamation of the Gospel is primarily a spiritual matter. The need to transmit the faith, which is essentially an ecclesial, communal event and not singly or done alone, should not result from seeking effective communication strategies or in choosing a certain group of recipients — for example, young people — but must look to who is entrusted with this spiritual work. The Church must question herself in this matter. This allows the problem to be approached not in an extrinsic manner but from within, involving the entire life and being of the Church. Many particular Churches request that the Synod determine whether the lack of effects in evangelization today, as well as in catechesis in modern times, is primarily the result of ecclesial and spiritual factors. This concerns the Church's ability to live as a real community, as a true brotherhood and as a Living Body and not simply a human establishment.
40. In knowing how to maintain the fundamental spiritual character of evangelization, the Church can allow herself to be formed by the action of the Holy Spirit and be conformed to Christ Crucified, who reveals to the world the face of the love of God and communion with him. In so doing, she can become more aware of her vocation as Ecclesia Mater by begetting children for the Lord in transmitting the faith and teaching a love which nurtures her children. At the same time, she fulfills her responsibility to proclaim and bear witness to this Revelation of God and gather her people scattered throughout the world, thereby fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy which the Church Fathers understood as addressed to her, "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; hold not back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities" (Is 54:2, 3 ). (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 1,” paragraph 39 and 40)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. (Psalm 115:9, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, Who in the abasement of Your Son
have raised up a fallen world,
fill Your faithful with holy joy,
for on those You have rescued from slavery to sin
You bestow eternal gladness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

EVANGELIZING THOUGHT of the DAY (ETD)

Today’s 2 paragraphs brings the section, “Evangelization and Church Renewal,” to a close. Some points already surfaced in the Instrumentum Laboris continue to be addressed, notably the fervor “in one’s relationship with Christ.” The document notes the “proclamation of the Gospel is primarily a spiritual matter” and “essentially an ecclesial, communal event.” In other words, there is something different about the Gospel that does not fit into a secular, materialistic, minimalistic or God-on-my-terms approach to Christian living. The remedy in the proclamation of the Gospel lies not in targeting particular groups in the parish but pastoral action that is always about the entire Body of Christ, “healed of all divisions.”

Consider:

• How does your parish engage the proclamation of the Gospel: to all or to targeted groups within the parish?
• What is the danger of ‘the sports groups Mass on Sunday,’ ‘the sodality Mass on Sunday,’ or any other group?