As I reminded the folks a few times, it's a long document: 85 pages if printed from the computer, and 284 paragraphs. In sad honesty (because I hate to admit this), I crammed reading it over two days, but I got through it.
And it's readable . . . so I would recommend that you do!
But if you can't and want a somewhat quick synopsis, I would like to offer you the following. Below are my notes from last night (a little annotated to help along), and they'll give you a little "taste" or "flare" of my presentation last night.
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"The Joy of the Gospel"
Presentation to the North Hills Theology on Tap
Monday, 27 January 2014
- Apostolic Exhortation? --- A form of teaching within the Church; not an encyclical, which focuses in on a particular subject, but is a reflection from a report or notes given to the Pope from an event, in this case, the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization
- Francis' "flare" --- Quotes Benedict XVI a number of times; shows continuity in the thought from "the Chair of Peter"
- "Catholic" in approach --- Uses sources from all corners of the world (US, Brazil, Asia, etc.)
- Opening sentence sets the tone for the work: "The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus."
- What is "joy"? --- Inner disposition of having encountered Jesus Christ in our lives
(- Example: Mary Magdalene at the tomb on the first Easter)
- Result from that encounter with Christ is to share the joy with everyone . . . which is EVANGELIZATION
- Three settings for the joy of the New Evangelization:
1. Those active in the Faith;
2. Those fallen away from the practice of the Faith; and
3. Those who don't know or reject Jesus Christ.
- Chapter One focuses on the "Church's Missionary Transformation"
- Evangelization is at the heart of Who and What the Church is
- All of her pastoral activities are rooted in it, because it brings us to that encounter with Christ and the call / His call to conversion
- Yet this is an action which come from the Heart of the Gospel and a Mother (the Church) who has an Open Heart
- Yet Francis recognizes (as does the Church) our human limitations
(Which brings us to . . .)
- Chapter Two's development of the understanding that we are called to evangelize "Amid the Crisis of Communal Commitment"
- Problems of today's world:
> Economy and Idolatry of Money
> Cultural Challenges
> Inculturating the Faith
> Urban Cultures
- Francis also addresses in this chapter "Temptations Faced by Pastoral Workers" (i.e., arrogance, complacency, lording one's "power", etc.)
- Chapter Three focuses on the "Proclamation of the Gospel"
- EVERYONE is called to proclaim the Gospel
- Not just the pastors of the Church, but all the baptized are called to "smell like the sheep" (understanding the environments we find ourselves in) [used earlier in the work]
- Pope Francis devotes a nice section talking to the pastors of the Church (priests, and even deacons) on the homily: what it is, how it should be approached within the liturgical celebration, how we should prepare it (prayer, timing, message, etc.)
(- Encourage those gathered to have their priests / deacons read, understand, and implement this section . . . for the good of their people!)
- Kerygma --- What is it? --- Francis: "first announcement" --- also "proclaim" or "preaching" --- can be both active and passive, as we proclaim and how we receive the proclamation --- foundation for building our relationship with Christ --- the kerygma must be the solid ground to build our faith upon
- Chapter Four deals with the "Social Dimension of Evangelization"
- Communal and Societal Repercussions of the Kerygma
- The Inclusion of the Poor in Society
- The Common Good and Peace in Society
- Social Dialogue as a Contribution to Peace
> Faith, Science and Reason
> Ecumenical Dialogue
> Judaism
> Interreligious Dialogue
> Social Dialogue in a Context of Religious Freedom
- Chapter Five brings us to consider why we are called to be "Spirit-Filled Evangelizers"
- Reasons for a "renewed missionary impulse"
> Personal encounter with the saving love of Jesus
> The spiritual savor of being a people
> Mysterious workings of the risen Christ and his Spirit
> The missionary power of intercessory prayer
- Mary, Mother of Evangelization / Star of the New Evangelization
- Close with prayer from EG
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Filled with Christ’s presence,
you brought joy to John the Baptist,
making him exult in the womb of his mother.
Brimming over with joy,
you sang of the great things done by God.
Standing at the foot of the cross
with unyielding faith,
you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection,
and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit
so that the evangelizing Church might be born.
Obtain for us now a new ardor born of the resurrection,
that we may bring to all the Gospel of life
which triumphs over death.
Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,
that the gift of unfading beauty
may reach every man and woman.
Virgin of listening and contemplation,
Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,
pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are,
that she may never be closed in on herself
or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.
Star of the new evangelization,
help us to bear radiant witness to communion,
service, ardent and generous faith,
justice and love of the poor,
that the joy of the Gospel
may reach to the ends of the earth,
illuminating even the fringes of our world.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen. Alleluia!
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Enjoy the journey . . .
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