In a long but stirring document the Holy Father has set forth a programme to flood the world with the knowledge of God’s love revealed in Christ, and the joy that comes from accepting it.
“In fidelity to the example of the Master, it is vitally important for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear,” says Francis.
“The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded. That is what the angel proclaimed to the shepherds in Bethlehem: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people” (Lk 2:10).
‘The Joy of the Gospel’ (Evangelii Gaudium) is written in simple language so that every member of the Church can read and understand it. And put it into practice in his or her own life.
“In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey,” says the Pope.
This is the blueprint for his future ministry: to awaken in every single Catholic a dynamic sense of the call to share the good news of Jesus with others.
The global media have highlighted one or other point from the document, but have generally missed the dominant theme – the joy of the Gospel for every person.
In practice, personal experience of this joy comes first. “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ. I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.”
So that there can be no misunderstanding, he adds: “No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since ‘no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord’.”
The emphasis on joy is the Church’s response to the emptiness and pain of today’s culture of despair in a world pervaded by the consumerist approach to life.
At times people complain “as if we could only be happy if a thousand conditions were met.”
This is partly because today’s “technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy”.
But the danger for such a world is “the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience,” says Francis.
He is sensitive to “the grief of people who have to endure great suffering.” At the same time, he explains, “slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress.”
He is in no doubt that adopting the “missionary option” will be radical.
It will “transform everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channelled for the evangelisation of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.”
Turning his attention to the billions of people who have still to hear the good news, he says:
“We cannot forget that evangelisation is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him.
“Many of these are quietly seeking God, led by a yearning to see his face, even in countries of ancient Christian tradition. All of them have a right to receive the Gospel.”
ALIVE!
Ireland