And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” [Mc 16:15]
+ going
+ proclamation of the good
news
+ --> universality
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always to the end of the age.” [Mt 28:19-20]
+ Going,
+ Making disciples,
+ Baptizing,
+ Teaching to obey,
+ Remembering
the Lord's Presence
You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” [Luke 24:48-49]
Luke:
+ Being sent,
+ Being Witness,
+ Being patient,
+ Being clothed with Power
from on high
For Vatican II,
The entire Church is
missionary.
Its missionary thrust comes
directly from the Mystery of
Trinity.
The Church's foundation and continued existence are not to provide refuge from a sinful world or to provide a warm and supportive community for lonely souls, or even less to be a plank of salvation on a tempestuos sea that threatens damnation.
The church is to point beyond itself, to be community that preaches, serves and witnesses to the reign of God.
In doing this, the church shares in and continues through the power of God's Spirit, the work of its Lord, Jesus Christ. (Bevan)
The "pilgrim church" is
missionary by its very nature
[AG 2]
Evangelization is the church's identity [Paul VI, EN 14]
Missionary activity belongs to the nature of the Christian life
[John Paul II, RM 1].
The church is a community of disciples bearing witness to the Risen Lord and his Gospel. Therefore it is the process of evangelization that is the raison d'etre of the church.” [FABC]
- The church does not have a mission-as if the church exists prior to its task- rather it is mission as such [Bevans]
In Ad Gentes (1965), missionary work is presented as composed of four successive stages:
a) witness of life, dialogue, presence of charity,
b) evangelisation and conversion,
c) the catechumenate and initiation Christian,
d) formation of the Christian community.
Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975)
Evangelization is a complex and varied elements -> renewal of humanity through:
- witness,
- explicit proclamation,
- inner adherence,
- entry into the community.
- acceptance of signs,
- apostolic initiative.
Other terms:
Mission
- Evangelism [Protestant]
First evangelization
Pre-evangelization
Re-evangelization
New evangelization
Initial proclamation
First evangelisation
- initial dialogical witness
the explicit proclamation of
Christ,
arousing in the intercolutor an
initial adhesion of faith.
an ecclesial action aimed at arousing the faith (CT 19)
missio ad gentes to distinguish it from “new evangelisation” (RM 37)
- the first phase of the process of Christian initiation (RCIA 68).
RM + GDC
- New evangelisation
=/=
Missio ad gentes
=/=
Pastoral activity
GDC: One evangelising process:
1- Missionary activity non-believers and religiously indifferent;
2- Catechetical activity-initiation, for those who choose the Gospel or in need to complete or restructure initiation;
3- Pastoral activity, for believers, in the community (n. 49).
The document itself acknowledges that the boundaries between church activities are not clear.
Inthe context of the relationship between dialogue and proclamation, DP [1991] stresses:
There can be no true evangelization without the explicit proclamation of Jesus as Lord
Proclamation is the communication of the Gospel message, the mystery of salvation realized by God for all in Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit.
It is an invitation to a commitment of faith in Jesus Christ and to entry through baptism into the community of believers which is the Church.
This proclamation can be solemn and public, as for instance, on the day of Pentecost, or a simple private conversation . . . . It leads naturally to catechesis which aims at deepening this faith (DP 10).
EA [1999] : Evangelization is a rich and dynamic reality and has various aspects and elements:
+ witness,
+ dialogue,
+ proclamation,
+ catechesis
+ conversion,
+ baptism,
+ insertion into the ecclesial community,
+the implantation of the Church,
+ inculturation and
+ integral human promotion.
Initial proclamation missio ad gentes,
The concept, despite of its emphasis on proclamation, is used by the documents to mean more than mere witnessing or mere proclamation of the contents of the kerygma;
II- HIGHLIGHTING SOME KEY
POINTS
AN ECCLESIAL “STYLE”
IP
A CONCRETE
PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH
1- IP Ecclesial “style”
An attitude of the Church
An organising principle
- frontier situations
- encounter with reality, people and situations outside the usual spheres [outsiders]
[INCULTURATION]
Initial proclamation as a style
an invitation of people to
listening to questions
and to accept the possible answers,
and the relationships that foster these in response to several requests become in many cases the starting point for a beginning [re-start] of a journey of faith.
Engaging in close relationship in ordinary life,
Accepting the challenge of diversity & ambiguity
Preserving one’s Christian identity as a stimulus to inhabit these territories, in order to weave these relations
that means, making its frontiers, its borders, a truly significant space for initial proclamation.
2- As practice
IP means the statements of the Christian faith in various forms
make possible the first steps in the faith by those who are far from.
Or
Initial Proclamation is that activity or set of activities that aim to bring the core message of the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ [Xavier Morlans]
Turning to our Asian context,
The great question:
How to share with our Asian brothers and sisters what we treasure as the gift containing all gifts, namely, the Good News of Jesus Christ [EA 19]?
In fact, EA re-affirms that: there can be no true evangelization without the explicit proclamation of Jesus as Lord.
EA invites us
To proclaim the Good News with loving respect and esteem for her listeners, a kind of proclamation which respects the rights of consciences.
Yet, respect does not eliminate the need for the explicit proclamation of the Gospel in its fullness [19]
The proclamation of Jesus Christ can most effectively be made by narrating his story, as the Gospels do.
The ontological notions can be complemented by more relational, historical and even cosmic perspectives. The Church in Asia must be open to the new and surprising ways in which the face of Jesus might be presented in Asia.
A fire can only be lit by something that is itself on fire.
The Good News of Jesus Christ can only be proclaimed by those who are taken up and inspired by the love of the Father for his children, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. . . . Christians who speak of Christ must embody in their lives the message that they proclaim. [EA 23].
i- Transcendental /metahistorical
/metaphysical Dimension
ii- Objective/historical/socio-
cultural Dimension
iii- Subjective/existential
/psychological Dimension
1- Transcendental /metahistorical
/metaphysical Dimension
proclamation of the GOOD NEWS, that is, God’s revelation of his plan of salvation (God’s saving presence)
&
salvific or efficacious proclamation
2- Objective/historical/socio-cultural dimension of salvation
- kerygma (communicating God’s Word - evangelization),
