AN OVERVIEW OF
"EVANGELIZATION IN THE MODERN WORLD"
A Summary of the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI
and
"GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES..."
The Bishops' Document
An Invitation
"COME AFTER ME," JESUS SAID, AS HE
WALKED ALONG THE SHORE, "AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN."
Matthew 4:19
Jesus commanded us, "Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you." Matthew 28
 The
Bishops arrived at the document through a process of sharing their faith and became faith
sharers with each other. Taken from The Introduction of the Bishop's Document.
"Give thanks unceasingly that in
receiving the Word of God... you have become imitators of the Church."
1Thessalonians 2:13-16
The Holy Spirit is the first gift of the risen
Christ to his people, gives us both the ability to receive the Gospel of Jesus and, in
response, the power to proclaim it. #36 Bishops Document Those, who sincerely accept the
Good News and who have been gathered by it into the community can and must and share it
with others. #13 Evangelii Nantiandi
"Let your speech always be gracious,
seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one."
Colossians 4:13
The Laity whose particular vocation places
them in the midst of the world must exercise a very special form of evangelization. Their
task is to put to use every Christian and evangelical possibility latent in the affairs of
the world. #70 Evangelii Nuntiandi
"Since we know the fear of the Lord, we
try to convince others."
2 Corinthiians 5:11
Inward Directions is ongoing conversion.
Unflagging attention is to be paid to those who have received the faith who have been in
contact with the Gospel for generations. The Church seeks to deepen, consolidate, nourish
and make even more mature the faith of those who are already called faithful or believers
in order that they may further advance in the Christian life. #54 Evangelii
Nantiandi
"You need endurance to do the will of God
and receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:36
Outward Direction addresses those who do not
know the Gospel or having heard it, stopped practicing their faith, and those who seek the
fullness faith. #72 Evangelii Nuntiandi
"Say not 'I am too young. To
whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you shall speak."
Jeremiah 1:7
Evangelization is a call to work for full
communion among all who confess Jesus. #25 Bishops Document Division
among Christians seriously impedes the work of Christ. This is one of the great obstacles
to evangelization today. We desire collaboration with other Christian communities with
whom we are not yet united in perfect unity. We take as a basis for this collaboration the
foundation of Baptism and the patrimony of faith, which is common to us. The duty of
giving witness to the gospel requires this. #77 Evangelii Nuntiandi
"Speak the truth to one another." Ephesians 4:25
Evangelization that stays inside of us in not
an evangelization in the Good News of Jesus Christ. #20 Bishops
Document Above all, the Gospel must be proclaimed by the witness of a
Christian life. #21 Evangelii Nuntiandi
"We must arouse one another in good
works, encourage one another." Hebrews 10:24
Evangelization does not come from what we feel
or know; it comes also from the way we serve others, especially the poorest, the most
marginal, the most hurting, the most defenseless, the least loved. #20 Bishops
Document
The work of evangelization presupposes in the
evangelizer an ever-increasing love for those whom the individual is
evangelizing. #79 Evangelii Nuntiandi
"We are ambassadors for
Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:20
Evangelization happens when the word of Jesus
speaks to people's hearts and minds. Needing no trickery or manipulation, evangelization
can happen only when people accept the gospel freely as the "Good News" it is
meant to be, because of the power of the Gospel message and the accompanying grace of
God. 21 Bishops Document
"I plant, Apollos waters, God causes
it to grow." 1 Corinthians 1:17 |
