Just a quick thought. This is from Evangelii Nuntiandi, a writing by Pope Paul VI. My professor referenced it in his remarks on my "Ministerial Vision Statement." (That is actually a fairly interesting insight into my life - maybe I'll be brave enough to post that too - do you want to read it?!)
Anyway....#14 Evangelii Nuntiandi (emphasis added):
The Church knows this. She has a vivid awareness of the fact that the Savior's words, "I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God," apply in all truth to herself: She willingly adds with St. Paul: "Not that I boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty that has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it." It is with joy and consolation that at the end of the great Assembly of 1974 we heard these illuminating words: "We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church." It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present-day society make all the more urgent. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection.
A few points as I read this:
1. Who is this addressed to? Only the clergy, the bishops, the religious? NO! Yes, only the clergy can "perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass" and only fully "reconcile sinners with God." But we can all "preach and teach" and we can and must all be a "channel of the gift of grace!" In fact, who more often invites people to God that ultimately leads them to reconciliation? Um, you! Me! Are we all doing that?
2. This does not say that the Church's "deepest identity" is to lay out a bunch of rules and condemn those who don't follow them. How many of us think often that is the case?
3. What do you hear in this passage? My filter (since we all have one!) hears a deep desire to bring all people close to Christ and to share his love and his grace with everyone we meet. And the Church doesn't simply want to rely on priests to do that - but she wants YOU to do it! All the time - everyday!
Ok, back to studying since I'm skipping mid-week mass to do homework! :(
1. Who is this addressed to? Only the clergy, the bishops, the religious? NO! Yes, only the clergy can "perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass" and only fully "reconcile sinners with God." But we can all "preach and teach" and we can and must all be a "channel of the gift of grace!" In fact, who more often invites people to God that ultimately leads them to reconciliation? Um, you! Me! Are we all doing that?
2. This does not say that the Church's "deepest identity" is to lay out a bunch of rules and condemn those who don't follow them. How many of us think often that is the case?
3. What do you hear in this passage? My filter (since we all have one!) hears a deep desire to bring all people close to Christ and to share his love and his grace with everyone we meet. And the Church doesn't simply want to rely on priests to do that - but she wants YOU to do it! All the time - everyday!
Ok, back to studying since I'm skipping mid-week mass to do homework! :(
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment