Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 495

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111612.cfm

MSF Picnic
2102

But now, Lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning: let us love one another.For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.


The recent synod of bishops, in meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, introduced the “new evangelization” with the following statement, the fourth proposal:

The Church and her evangelizing mission have their origin and source in the Most Holy Trinity according to the plan of the Father, the work of the Son, which culminated in his death and glorious Resurrection, and the mission of the Holy Spirit. The Church continues this mission of God’s love in our world.

Evangelization has to be understood in a broad and profound theological-doctrinal framework as an activity of word and sacrament which, especially through the Eucharist, admits us to participation in the life of the Trinity, and this then arouses through the grace of the Holy Spirit the power to evangelize and to give witness to the Word of God with enthusiasm and courage.

The New Evangelization recognizes the primacy of God’s grace and how in baptism one comes to live in Christ. This emphasis on divine filiation should bring the baptized to a life of faith that clearly manifests their Christian identity in all aspects of their personal activity.

Evangelizing is not simply talking about God. Nor is it telling people to go to church, or persuading them of certain religious beliefs. It is the action of the Holy Trinity in our world. The Church – that’s you and me – welcome the work of the Trinity in the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, and by our admirable way of life. We witness God’s hand upon us and we give witness to God’s work to others.

This proposition emphasizes the “divine filiation” of each Christian. Filiation comes from the Latin word, filius, meaning son. Every Christian is an adopted child of God (Galatians 4:4), baptized to a life of faith that clearly manifests one’s Christian identity. I can remember a time when "the church" was either a building or the ordained priests and bishops. I hope we're beyond that now. The Church is everyone who believes in Jesus. All are adopted children of God.

If you want to make a difference, you have to be different. That might seem obvious but some Christians try to change others to their Christian faith without first removing the log from their own eyes. The synod disavows that kind of proselytizing:

...This proclamation, given with integrity, must be offered with a total respect for each person, without any form of proselytizing.

Making a difference by forcing, manipulating, bribing or conning people into church membership is no different from the methods of the world around us, and no more effective. It does more harm than good. Likewise to send one's children to church rather than to lead them violates their right to see living faith. 

The Church that emerges from these changing times might still be celebrate the faith of our fathers and mothers, but it will be more committed, dynamic and effective. It will be a church that does more than talk about love.