What's the good news?

Yesterday Pope Benedict gave a wonderful address on the "good news" to thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square in Rome prior to a mid-day prayer of the Church called the Angelus.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

In today's liturgy the evangelist Matthew, who will accompany us though this whole liturgical year, presents the beginning of Jesus' public mission. It essentially consists in the preaching of the kingdom of God and in the healing of the sick, to demonstrate that this kingdom has drawn near, indeed, it is already in our midst.

Jesus begins his preaching in Galilee, the region in which he grew up, a "marginal" territory in comparison to the center of the Jewish nation, which is Judea, and in it, Jerusalem. But the prophet Isaiah had already announced that this land, assigned to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, would have a glorious future: The people immersed in darkness would see a great light (cf. Isaiah 8:23-9:1), the light of Christ and his Gospel (cf. Matthew 4:12-16).

The term "gospel" in Jesus' time was used by the Roman emperor's for their proclamations. Independently of the content, they were defined as "good news," that is, proclamations of salvation, because the emperor was considered the lord of the world and each of his edicts a portent of good. The application of this term to Jesus' preaching had a very critical meaning, as if to say: God, not the emperor, is the Lord of the world, and the true Gospel is that of Jesus Christ.

The "good news" that Jesus proclaims is summarized in these words: "The kingdom of God," or the kingdom of heaven, "is near" (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). What does this expression mean? It certainly does not mean an earthly kingdom limited by space and time, but it proclaims that it is God who rules, that God is Lord and his lordship is present -- actual -- it is being realized.

The novelty of Christ's message is that in him God has drawn near, he already reigns in our midst, as the miracles and the healings that he accomplishes show. God reigns in the world through his Son made man, and with the force of the Holy Spirit, who is called "the finger of God" (cf. Luke 11:20). Where Jesus comes, the Creator Spirit brings life and men are cured of diseases of body and spirit. The lordship of God is thus manifested in the total healing of man. With this Jesus wants to reveal the countenance of the true God, the God who is near, full of mercy for every human being; the God who makes a gift to us of life in abundance, of his own life. The kingdom of God is for this reason life that affirms itself over death, the light of the truth that scatters the darkness of ignorance and falsehood.

Let us pray to Mary Most Holy that she obtain for the Church the same passion for the kingdom of God that animated the mission of Jesus Christ: passion for God, for his lordship of life and of love; passion for man, encountered in truth to give him the most precious treasure; the love of God, his Creator and Father.

These are some really great words we need to hear often, especially from Pope Benedict. "Jesus' lordship" over all things is not just a "religious" title or phrase - but an active reality in the lives of those who are his disciples and can say with reverence and awe "Lord" (Hebrew=Adonai). And having a "lord" is super when this lord comes in the power of love, the power to heal, to save, and to serve. Thank you Lord Jesus!

For a wonderful testimony of Jesus' lordship read an article we have by the current papal preacher, Fr. Cantalamessa called Jesus is Lord.

Know and Confess that Jesus is Lord!

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

As Christians we are called to know and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! The first step to evangelization is knowing who Jesus is as the Lord of the world, but also personally as the Lord of our hearts. This means having a personal relationship with Him and getting to know Him better every day.

During training for a nine month evangelization ministry I was a part of, the leader told us that we "can't give what we don't have". Basically, If we plan on telling people about Christ, we better know who He is first! This really struck me and it has helped me remember that the foundation of any evangelization ministry is my own relationship with my Lord Jesus.Fr. Francis Martin discusses this basic and crucial truth in ChristLife's most recent podcast. He has been a priest for many years, and is now a part of Mother of God Community. He speaks with great wisdom and his insights really challenged me in my own relationship with Christ.

You can listen in to ChristLife's most recent podcast here, or press play below:

A Call for a New Apologetics

What is apologetics? First, the root of the word "apologetics" comes from "apologia" which means defense. A Scripture that pertains to this is 1 Peter 3:15:

"In your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence."

On this topic, Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago, wrote an very good article called A New Evangelization for a New Millennium: A Call for a New Apologetics

He has some very good points, and it is worth reading in its entirety, especially as we come into contact with friends, family members, and co-workers that are living in sin. The following is a short selection, which he begins with Jesus' words in Scripture:

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. . . . Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again” (Jn. 8:7-11).

For those of us seeking to generate a new apologetics in a new evangelization capable of drawing all closer to Christ, His Church, and one another, the account of Jesus’ disposition toward the adulteress and her accusers is instructive. Christ, who is God and thus knows the sinful hearts of all men and women, castigates those who were so ready to punish the adulteress, not because their judgment on her sin was in error, but because they lacked humility and respect. After forgiving the woman, Jesus immediately confirmed the nature of her act by calling it a sin and calling her to conversion — to a turn toward God and His truth that sets us free to love.

As a communion formed by preserving and sharing Christ’s gifts, the Church best fulfills her mission when she ministers with Our Lord’s combination of respect for persons and for the truth that fulfills them. In other words, the Church is both Catholic and apostolic. As Catholic, she reaches out to everyone, even — and especially — those most sinful and broken. But as apostolic, the Church also reaches out with the faith that comes to us from the apostles, without compromises that would contravene the dignity and vocation of beings made in the image of a self-giving God... read more

Visit our page of articles for more on apologetics or the section About the Catholic Faith in our bookstore.

Christmas as a subversive feast!?

Fr. Barron a wonderful priest from Chicago, who I podcasted last year, recently released a Christmas video where he contends we shouldn't domesticate Christmas - since it is truly a radical subversive feast! A very good look at the real powerful implications of Jesus' birth.

Oh, and you may wonder why are we still blogging on "Christmas." Wasn't that over on Dec 26. No way man! We the Church celebrate it till this upcoming Sunday, the Baptism of Jesus!

Childlike Faith

"For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

This verse is one that most people have heard repeatedly, and yet sometimes forget it's true meaning or take it for granted. When people lose someone or something they love the first reaction so often is to blame God rather then humbly ask Him for His help. It is easy to forget that He suffered a far greater pain then we could ever imagine and He will always understand and help us through our most difficult times.

The video below is a recording from a phone call made by a 12 year old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. The radio station was so moved that they recorded it and put it on their website. The video really inspired me because it showed God's love through the eyes of a child, and we could all learn from his faith!

Youth Arise!

"The term evangelization has a very rich meaning.[4] In the broad sense, it sums up the Church’s entire mission: her whole life consists in accomplishing the traditio Evangelii, the proclamation and handing on of the Gospel, which is 'the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes' (Rom 1:16) and which, in the final essence, is identified with Jesus Christ himself (cf. 1 Cor 1:24)" (Doctrinal Note on Evangelization).

The people of the Church are called to evangelize, and many young adult have the desire but lack the means to do so. Ryan O'Hara, executive director of "Youth Arise", is very involved in the training of young adults to be apostles for Christ! In ChristLife's most recent podcast, Ryan shares his testimony and the exciting opportunities for young adults to gather together and learn more about their faith and how to share it with others.

Listen in to ChristLife's most recent podcast here, or press play below:

On Evangelization and Christmas

Here is a really great excerpt from an address Pope Benedict XVI delivered two days before Christmas with several thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

* * *

The evangelizing mission of the Church is the answer to the cry "Come, Lord Jesus," which runs through the whole of salvation history and which continually goes up from the lips of believers. "Come, Lord, to transform our hearts so that justice and peace are spread throughout the world." This is meant to bring to mind the doctrinal note on some aspects of evangelization just published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith http://www.christlife.org/sharefaith/articles/doctrinalnoteonevangelization.html The document proposes, in effect, to remind all Christians -- in a situation in which the reason for being itself of evangelization is often no longer clear -- that the welcoming itself of the glad tidings of the faith moves us to communicate the salvation received as a gift.

In fact, the truth that saves life, that became flesh in Jesus, ignites in those who receive it a love of neighbor that moves our freedom to give as a gift that which has been freely received. Being reached by the presence of God, who draws near to us at Christmas, is an inestimable gift, a gift that is capable of making us live in the universal embrace of the friends of God, in that network of friendship with Christ that binds heaven and earth, that directs human freedom toward its fulfillment and that, if lived in its truth, flourishes in a gratuitous love and a concern for the good of all people.

Nothing is more beautiful, urgent and important than freely giving to people what we have freely received from God. Nothing can exempt or discharge us from this fascinating duty. The joy of Christmas of which we already have a foretaste, as we are filled with hope, moves us at the same time to proclaim to all the presence of God in our midst.

Mary is the incomparable model of evangelization, she who did not communicate an idea to the world but rather Jesus, the incarnate Word. Let us invoke her with confidence so that also the Church in our time proclaims Christ the Savior. Every Christian and every community feels the joy of sharing with others the good news that God so loved the world to give his only begotten Son so that the world might be saved through him. This is the authentic meaning of Christmas, that we must always rediscover and live intensely.

* * *

A wonderful address that reaffirms all that we are doing here at ChristLife to evangelize and to encourage others to evangelize.  Lets ask the Father to send us His Spirit to help us to proclaim the glad tidings of Jesus!  And we ask blessed Mary to pray that we like her can communicate not just an idea but a life giving and life changing Word!  Amen!