Words of the Word

Week 17, Saturday. Saint John Vianney. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

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

78. According to the various responses, this examination resulted in three basic requirements: 1) the ability to discern or a capacity to place oneself within the present circumstances, unwavering in the conviction that, within this context, the Gospel can still be proclaimed and the Christian faith lived; 2) the ability to live forms of fundamental and authentic adhesion to the Christian faith, whose simple character can already serve as a witness to the transforming power of God in our history; and 3) a clear and visible bond with the Church, capable of making her missionary and apostolic character perceptible. These requirements are submitted to the consideration of the Synod Assembly in the hope that, through its deliberations, the Church might receive assistance in following the path of conversion called for by the new evangelization.

79. Many particular Churches, at the time they received the text of the Lineamenta, were already engaged in examining and re-planning their pastoral programs based on these requirements. Some used the term "missionary renewal" to describe their work; others "a pastoral program of conversion". All were in strong agreement that the heart of the new evangelization is the Church's renewed commitment to her missionary mandate, given by the Lord Jesus Christ, who willed her and sent her into the world, so that she might be guided by the Holy Spirit in bearing witness to the salvation she has received and in proclaiming the face of God the Father, who took the initial step in this work of salvation. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 78-79)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

Lord, in your great love, answer me. (Psalm 69:14, Mass).

COLLECT

Almighty and merciful God,
who made the Priest Saint John Vianney
wonderful in his pastoral zeal,
grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example
we may in charity win brothers and sisters for Christ
and attain with them eternal glory.
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 selected paragraphs today finish the topic “Mission ad gentes, Pastoral Care and a New Evangelization” and do so in a very clear and convincing manner. We are seeing once again actions at the heart of the New Evangelization: discerning, witnessing, bonding (to the Body of Christ, the Church) and converting (ongoing, daily conversion of heart, mind and body). In drawing together responses to the Lineamenta, this Instrumentum Laboris notes the renewal that is happening in parts of the Church centering on missionary work and ongoing conversion.

The Instrumentum Laboris is presenting an initial path for ecclesial renewal and the renewal of each believer. While we await with expectant faith the work of the Holy Spirit in the Synod this October, deepening reflections on what it means to witness to Jesus Christ as one sent forth (mission) and the requirement of ongoing, daily conversion of heart, mind and body to the Person, Jesus Christ are works that have a timeless and eternal validity for the individual Christian and the One Body of Christ. Too often, renewal at various levels of the Church attempt, albeit with good intentions, a ‘re-invention of the wheel.’ Our Savior has provided all: 1) the Kingdom is present, therefore 2) turn from the selfishness of sin to the selflessness of service in My Name (metanoina, conversion) and 3) bind yourself to Me and trust that My words will lead you on the path of life in this world and in the world to come (belief, faith).

Consider:

Among some, terms such as witness, conversion, personal relationship with Jesus Christ sound foreign and distant. How do we loose the baggage of false meanings associated with these Gospel terms and embrace the call to action that they summon?

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

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

76. Discernment for a new evangelization clearly acknowledges the profound change which is presently taking place in the Church’s evangelizing mission. Traditional, established concepts — formally denoted by the terms “countries of ancient Christianity” and “mission lands” — are no longer suitable. At present, these terms seem overly simplified and referring to outdated situations; they fail to provide useful models for Christian communities today. Pope John Paul II observed: “The boundaries between pastoral care of the faithful, new evangelization and specific missionary activity are not clearly definable, and it is unthinkable to create barriers between them or to put them into watertight compartments. [...] The Churches in traditionally Christian countries, for example, involved as they are in the challenging task of new evangelization, are coming to understand more clearly that they cannot be missionaries to non-Christians in other countries and continents, unless they are seriously concerned about the non-Christians at home. Hence missionary activity ad intra is a credible sign and a stimulus for missionary activity ad extra, and vice versa.”

77. Despite varying emphasis and factors related to cultures and history, the responses to the Lineamenta well understood the different nature of the new evangelization. They see it not as simply replacing older forms of pastoral activity (the first evangelization, pastoral care) with newer forms, but rather as initiating a process of renewal in the Church’s fundamental mission. Questioning herself on how to evangelize today, the Church does not exclude examining herself and the quality of evangelization in her communities. The new evangelization is the duty of everyone in the Church (individuals, communities, parishes, dioceses, bishops’ conferences, movements, groups and other ecclesial realities as well as religious and consecrated persons) to examine the Church’s life and pastoral activity by closely considering, according to the Gospel, the caliber of one’s life of faith and the ability to be actively involved in proclaiming the Gospel. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 76-77)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

Lord, in your great love, answer me. (Psalm 69:14, Mass).

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)

Under the heading “Mission ad gentes, Pastoral Care and a New Evangelization,” the next few paragraphs address present realities in the work of evangelization. Additionally, this section also speak to the hermeneutic of the New Evangelization: not new content, not a change in content but a renewal in how the content is expressed so as to speak to the specific and unique situation of present ecclesial ministry in the world. Once again, this pre-synodal document calls the Church to examine current efforts and activities. While never abandoning the missio ad gentes (the mission to the world), it is also necessary ‘to keep an eye on the home front.’ The laudable work of going forth is grounded in a base that continues to grow and to fuel the missionary work Jesus entrusts to ALL members of His Church.

Consider:

In many Catholic circles, ‘missionary work’ is perceived by the vast majority as the work ‘special people called missionaries’ do in lands far, far away. What can be done to help everyone know deeply her/his role as evangelizers by virtue of Baptism?

Week 17, Wednesday. Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Evangelizing Thought of the Day (ETD)

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

74. The responses describe a very different situation in those places where the Church is in the minority. In those cases where Churches are free to profess their faith and live their religion, minority status is seen as an opportunity to give Christianity greater visibility, to seek avenues of involvement in the world and to work to bring about change. However, where persecution is part of the minority status, evangelization is more closely aligned to what Jesus experienced in his being faithful, even to the cross. Such a situation reveals the bond existing between evangelization and the cross. These Churches bear witness to this close association as a gift to the entire Church, a fact which these Churches should not overlook themselves. These Churches rightly serve as a reminder that evangelization cannot be measured in quantitative terms of success.

75. The renewal to which we are called is greatly assisted by the Eastern Catholic Churches and those Christian communities which, either in the past or in the present, are hidden, marginalized, persecuted and experiencing intolerance of an ethnic, ideological or religious nature. Their faith-witness, perseverance, resiliency, enduring hope and the intuitive character of certain pastoral practices are a gift to be shared with those Christian communities which, having had a glorious past, are now showing signs of weariness and a dispersion of energy. Churches unaccustomed to practicing the faith in a minority situation can certainly benefit from hearing experiences which can instill the necessary courage required in the work of a new evangelization. Even more spiritual benefits can come from welcoming those who are forced to leave their homelands because of persecution and who bear in their spirit the untold richness of the signs of martyrdom which they have personally experienced. (Instrumentum Laboris, “Chapter 2: Time for a New Evangelization,” paragraph 74-75)

PSALM for TODAY (click for full Psalm)

God is my refuge on the day of distress. (Psalm 59:17, Mass).

COLLECT

O God, who constantly raise up in your Church
new examples of virtue,
grant that we may follow so closely
in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus
in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards
that are his 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)

It is hard for many to grasp the reality of a Church that is universal. Often the experience of Church is limited to one’s parish and anything bigger, even on a diocesan level, is simply not on a person’s or community’s radar. While there is something natural about this, it has the potential of creating a rather insular view and experience of Church. Today’s selected paragraphs reference places in the world where the Church is a minority presence in culture or a persecuted community, or both. Due in part to a lack of knowledge of contemporary Church happenings, many people think persecutions refer only to those atrocities that happened centuries ago, in a land far removed from one’s sphere of living. Even when news of these difficulties are brought to people’s attention, there is an air that somehow this is unreal and does not affect me in my circle of Church life. The Instrumentum Laboris is clear that these communities have much to teach the rest of the Christian world that has perhaps become too comfortable, too cozy with the world. Hence the warning to the ‘bean-counter’ and assessment approach to evangelization: “evangelization cannot be measured in quantitative terms of success.”

Consider:

When I hear of martyrdom or persecutions for the faith, what comes to mind - something remote in time and place or a current reality?
How comfortable have I become in living the life of Jesus Christ to the neglect of bearing the Kingdom in my life?

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

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

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

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?