Preaching the Gospel today

PREACHING THE GOSPEL TODAY

How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news (Romans 10:15)

0 STATISTICS
TAIWAN POPULATION: 23,000,000 CATHOLICS: 298,000 (1.3%) MISSION: 150 YEARS

1 LIVING IN A CHANGEABLE WORLD

A. The progress of science: people look for answers in science; they do not trust in religion anymore. B. The mechanization of work and the internationalization of business: the global village. C. The worlds economic crisis: people have lost their income, work, possessions They return to God for help. D. The threat of war and the destruction of the world: people reflect about the length and the value of human life. E. The growth of fanatics and fundamentalists in many religions: the threat of terrorism, persecution, and intolerance. F. The sense of national and cultural identity: nationalisms. G. Women awareness of their human rights and dignity: equity. H. Migrants: more people living or working in foreign countries. I. The increasing of missionary activity among the traditional religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Hinduism J. The use of mass media: internet, newspapers, TV, radio K. The place and treatment of the physically and mentally challenged or disable in society: we hide them because we feel ashamed of them. L. The attention given to the socially excluded or marginalized: prisoners; sick; poor; drug addicts; suicidal M. Family crisis: increasing number of broken families. N. The disappearance of ethical values in society: selfish welfare and religious indifference.

Preaching the Gospel today O. The need for spirituality: people hunger for things that last long and bring permanent happiness to their lives. Humanity is taking a new path. Do we pay attention to the changes in the world? How do Christians react to this changing world? How to preach the good news of Jesus and make it attractive to this new humanity?

2 JESUS: THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The gospel of Mark summarizes Jesus mission in this statement: The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel (1:15). This sentence can be divided in four parts: 2.1. THE TIME IS FULFILLED (See reality with new eyes) Jesus always paid attention to the events that were happening in his world (facts) and when they happened (time). He saw reality with different eyes and could perceive things that others could not even imagine: After John had been arrested (Mk 1:14). Johns arrest by Herod was for him the sign of Gods intervention in the world. For that reason he began to preach the presence of the Kingdom of God all over the country and chose some disciples to help him in this urgent mission (Mt 9:35-38). Jesus helped the crowds to see everything with different eyes too: a) He invited the crowds to reflect about the events that were happening at the present moment (Lk 13:1-5). b) He criticized the wrong interpretation of certain situations (Jn 9:2-3). c) He used parables to reject certain religious ideas and practices (Mt 21:28-32; Lk 10:29-37; 18:9-14). He showed the crowd that God always fulfills his plan of salvation through the daily events of life. Jesus arrived to this understanding because he had a double experience: a) Deep experience of God: he truly believed to be the Son of God and prayed often.

Preaching the Gospel today b) Deep experience of the daily life of the people of Israel: his incarnation as a human being and his involvement in all the aspects of life. However, not every group or individual was willing to accept Jesus interpretation of the reality: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the religious leaders, and the majority of the Israelites preferred to follow the traditional beliefs without paying attention to the new happenings and events. It seems that only the poor, the sinners, and the needy were ready to welcome and accept his message, probably because they were seeking a radical change in their lives. 2.2. THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CLOSE AT HAND (Novelty causes amazement) All the religious and political groups at Jesus time expected the coming of the Kingdom of God (the Messiah), but had different perceptions or interpretations: Pharisees: perfect observance of the Law (Torah); Essenes: when the people in the country became pure of heart; Zealots: fighting the Romans with weapons and violence; Crowd: the coming of the King-Messiah: powerful messenger from God.

Jesus did not expect the coming of the Kingdom of God; it was already present in the world; it had arrived to its people this is his novelty. It was not the fruit of human work or virtuous life, but a free gift that God offers to everyone. Jesus did not waste time in explaining what the Kingdom of God is about (detailed description); instead, he said that it was already here and could be found in his words and actions: Go back and tell John what you hear and see: the blind see again, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life and the good news is proclaimed to the poor; and blessed is anyone who does not find me a cause of falling (Mt 11:4-6). If it is through the Spirit of God that I drive out devils, then be sure that the Kingdom of God has caught you unawares (Mt 12:28). Jesus, in order to help people understand this message, made his personal interpretation of the Old Testament: He is the promised Messiah who has introduced the Kingdom of God in the world (see Lk 4:16-22). He also uses comparisons to reveal and clarify the mystery of 3

Preaching the Gospel today the kingdom: it is like a seed; a treasure in the field; a mustard seed; leaven The poor understand this kind of language and accept it; the rest (those outside) cannot understand it because they are not willing to accept Jesus as their Savior.

2.3. REPENT (A difficult requirement) Jesus did not ask people to observe the Law and the Traditions; on the contrary, he asked them to repent from their wrongdoings and change their life style (metanoia: change the way of thinking and living). The people must change their mentality and ideology; if not, they will never be able to understand and join the Kingdom of God preached by Jesus. Why do they have to change? Jesus is offering them new and different values. Their old religion did not reveal the true face of God to the people anymore: a) The observance of the Law was more important than the wellbeing of people (Mk 2:29). b) Gods will have been substituted by human traditions (Mk 7:1013). c) Compassion and mercy were forgotten in order to follow the Law (Mt 9:13). d) The ideas of the religious leaders (especially the Pharisees) were the main obstacle for people entering the Kingdom of God (Mt 23:13 = hypocrites). What does this change bring them? It brings them to recognize their mistakes and begin to walk on a new path of life. This is the summary of the path: Learn to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mt 22:36-39); understand that the aim of the Law is to imitate Gods attitude (Mt 5:43-48); comprehend that being the holy people of God means to do his will and behave like humble servants who have just done their work (Lk 17:10); believe that in front of God we are all equal and, in the community, the leaders are those who love to serve (Mt 9:35); comprehend that the Sabbath was made for the well-being of mankind (help those in need first) and to avoid the divisions and fights within the community (Mk 2:27). In other words, learn that nobody can call others sinners, impure or unclean, gentiles, cursed,

Preaching the Gospel today ignorant because God welcomes them as his beloved children (Mt 5:45). Beginning this kind of change was the same as dying and being born again: In all truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above (Jn 3:3). Many people rejected this radical change of life style, reacted against Jesus, and decided to kill him (Jn 11:45-54; 12:37-41). 2.4. BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL (Fulfillment of peoples hope) This new life style was called by Jesus the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The events and happenings at Jesus time were clear and evident signs that Gods plan was already present among the people of Israel. This new life style was bad news for the Pharisees, Scribes, and Doctors of the Law, but it was good news for the poor and the needy (Lk 4:18; cf. Isaiah 61:1). Jesus, through his words and actions, showed the poor Israelites how to communicate directly with God. Jesus revealed the true face of God: a loving and forgiving father who is close to his people, especially to those who need him. Faith is the only requirement for those who wish to enter the path of the Good News. In other words, they must believe in Jesus message; furthermore, they must also believe in the person of Jesus and accept everything as he presents it to them. There is no other entrance door: I am the Way; I am Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me (Jn 14:6). Jesus himself, the Son of God, and his public activity show the true face of God (Jn 14:9).

3 JESUS BRINGS HEALING-LIBERATION TO A BROKEN WORLD

Jesus time was marked by conflicts and divisions at every level: economic, social, political, religious It was apparently impossible to bring unity and peace to the people of Israel. Jesus took a stand in order to change this situation. What way did Jesus choose in order to heal this broken world? 3.1. JESUS WELCOMES THE EXCLUDED AND LIVES AMONG THEM

Preaching the Gospel today

During the three years of his public activity, Jesus spent most of his time with the excluded from the religious and social system. Jesus was a good friend for sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, Samaritans, gentiles, sick people, lepers, possessed by evil spirits, women, children, soldiers, the poor, and the weak in general (Mt 11:19). Jesus welcomed everyone, even the powerful and the rich; he did not exclude anyone, but placed himself primarily on the side of the poor and the needy. He openly rejected and criticized the ideas of the political and religious leaders because they excluded and marginalized the poor in Gods name. 3.2. JESUS REJECTS DIVISION AND SEEKS UNITY At Jesus time, the Jewish society was profoundly divided. The political and religious groups divided the people according to certain standards: neighbor or no neighbor (Lk 10:29-37); holy or sinner (Mk 2:15-17); pure or impure (Mk 7:1-23); Jew or gentile (Mt 15:21-28); rich or poor. Jesus wants to liberate the people from these religious pillars that keep them divided: the Temple; the Sabbath, and the rules of purity. Instead, Jesus invites them to join the values of the Kingdom of God: Love, peace, and justice. These values will keep the people united with God and with one another. 3.3. JESUS REVEALS THE HYPOCRISY AND FALSITY OF THE LEADERS Jesus was a free and fearless man: he was Gods messenger (like the prophets). He was not afraid of accusing the religious and political leaders of falsity and hypocrisy: Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Herod and his followers, and Teachers of the Law (Mt 23:1-36; Mk 11:15-18; Lk 11:37-52). He warned the rich about the foolishness of greed or the accumulation of riches; he doubted their future conversion (Mt 6:24; Mk 10:23-25; Lk 12:13-21). He was not scared of the Jewish and Roman leaders when they threatened to kill him if he continued with his public accusations (Lk 13:32; 23:9; Jn 18:23; 19:11). He followed Gods path even though it could lead to suffering and death. 3.4. JESUS FIGHTS AGAINST EVIL Since the creation of the world, everything that God made was good. He wanted human beings to enjoy his friendship and a joyful life by his side; however, they could not resist the temptations of evil, decided to disobey God, and therefore evil entered the world. Jesus, during his life, tried to follow Gods project by liberating mankind from all forms of evil that make them slaves: hunger, sadness, ignorance, injustice, 6

Preaching the Gospel today suffering, sin, weaknesses, and death. Jesus fights and defeats the Devil, the cause of all evil in the world (Mt 19:8). 3.5. JESUS INVITES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD Jesus words, attitude, and actions reveal a new vision of the world, a new starting point, a new beginning: the kingdom of God. The basic values of this new beginning can be seen in the small community (the disciples and other followers) that Jesus gathered around him: a) b) c) d) e) They share their money and riches (Jn 13:29); They are all equal in Gods eyes (Mt 23:8-10); Service is their power (Mt 20:24-28; Lk 9:35; Jn 13:14); Fraternity and friendship: one heart and one soul (Acts 4:32); A new relationship between men and women. 3.6. JESUS USES A DIFFERENT TEACHING METHOD Jesus offers a new teaching to the people. He teaches with authority (Mk 1:22) and uses a different method as well: simple language and parables; he uses facts or events taken from daily life to communicate his teachings (farmers, fishermen, shepherds); he welcomes everyone to listen to his words and to see his powerful actions (Mt 22:16); he does not make distinctions among people (he treats men and women the same way; poor and rich; sick and healthy); he invites the disciples to solve the problems of the crowd (Mk 6:37); he teaches everywhere (by the sea shore; on the mountains; in the cities; in the country side; in the synagogues; in houses; on a boat; in the Temple); the children become the teachers of the adults (Mt 18:3); he is free and wants his followers to act with freedom: they must follow Gods commandments, but do not have to observe human traditions (Mt 12:1-8); he does what he teaches; he prays at night and invite others to pray (Lk 11:1). 3.7. JESUS IS OBEDIENT UNTIL DEATH: HE REVEALS THE TRUE FACE OF GOD Jesus, during his public life, truly believed he was the Messiah and the Son of God (Mk 1:1). Out of love for mankind, God did not send a prophet to fulfill a mission, but his only and beloved Son. As St. Paul put it: Our Lord Jesus Christ, although he was rich, he became poor for your sake, so that you should become rich through his poverty (2 Cor 8:9). In fact, Jesus was not a Roman citizen, he did not belong to the Jewish high class, and he did not study the Torah in Jerusalem or became a teacher of the Law He was the son of a carpenter who

Preaching the Gospel today lived in a small village of Galilee. He lived thirty years in Nazareth and never got married. We can truly say that he became poor for our sake. In his ordinary life and social status Jesus sees always Gods will. Jesus life reveals Gods special love and care for the poor and the weak. Jesus will be faithful to God by remaining all his life on the side of the poor. However, it was not an easy path and had to face many dangers and temptations (Mt 4:1-11). He learned to put his life in Gods hands, trust and obey him, and found the answers to his questions in prayer (Lk 22:39-46).

4 THE CONTENTS OF THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The first chapter of Marks gospel shows us what the objective of the Good News is and how to teach them to the world. The basic content of the Good News is that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God (Mk 1:1). This good news is proclaimed by John the Baptist and is the response to the expectations of the people of Israel (1:2-8); God confirmed Johns proclamation at the moment of Jesus baptism (1:911) and Jesus showed his readiness to fulfill his mission by overcoming the temptations in the desert (1:12-13); finally, Jesus proclaimed this good news clearly at the beginning of his public activity in Galilee (1:14-15). After this, Mark introduces seven points in order to underline the objective of the proclamation of the Good News. These seven points could also help us to evaluate the validity of the method we use to preach the gospel today: 1. Mk 1:16-20: the calling of the first disciples. The first objective of the Good News is gathering a number of disciples and followers around the person of Jesus in order to create a new community-fraternity. 2. Mk 1:21-22: the crowd is amazed at the teachings of Jesus. The Good News provokes a critical reaction among the people against the teachings of their religious and political leaders.

Preaching the Gospel today 3. Mk 1:23-28: Casting out an unclean spirit. The Good News fights and eliminates all kinds of evil because they keep people trapped and destroy human life. 4. Mk 1:29-34: the healing of Peters mother-in-Law and other sick people. The Good News cares and looks after the sick and wants to restore their lives so they can serve one another (service). 5. Mk 1:35: Jesus prays in a deserted place. The Good News must unite people with God, our Creator, through constant prayer. 6. Mk 1:36-39: Proclamation of the gospel throughout the villages of Galilee. The Good News requires of missionaries willing to bring the gospel to the ends of the world; they cannot rest on the results already obtained, whether abundant or scarce. 7. Mk 1:40-45: The cleansing of a leper. The Good News welcomes the excluded by the religious and political authorities and reintegrates them in the fraternity of the new community.

5 THE MISSION OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

5.1. THE CALLING OF THE DISCIPLES: COME AND FOLLOW ME! Jesus, when preaching the Good News throughout Galilee, realized that the harvest is rich but the laborers are few (Lk 10:2). Therefore, he chose a special group of followers for a double purpose: a) To be his companions. b) To send them out to preach the gospel (Mk 3:14-15). Jesus is normally the one who calls his disciples to follow him (Mk 1:1620: Passes by sees calls them). He knows their heart and their readiness to join his mission. On the other hand, they know him, his activity, and his message. Jesus calling is free, but requires a personal decision and true commitment. Those willing to follow Jesus must change their life style and believe in the Good News. The good disciple must abandon everything, renounce himself, take up his cross, and embrace a poor and itinerant life (Mt 10:37-39; 16:24-26; 17:27-29).

Preaching the Gospel today The disciples do everything because of love for Jesus and the gospel (Lk 9:24; Mk 8:35). Not all the disciples follow Jesus the same way. Many people enjoy Jesus teachings and offer him their house or share their food, but are not willing to leave everything and go after him. However, there are others who follow him all the time: the twelve (Mk 3:13-19); some women (Lk 8:1-3); the group of the seventy two (Lk 10:1). All these disciples, since they have accepted Jesus calling and have committed themselves to follow him, they are Jesus new family, the new community of the Kingdom of God (Mk 3:31-35). They were born again. They cannot look backwards and they must look to their future mission. Who did want to become a disciple of Jesus? Most of Jesus followers were simple people with short education and culture (Jn 7:15; Acts 4:13): men and women; fishermen, farmers, tax collectors, craftsmen, zealots, sick people healed by Jesus There were also rich and powerful people: Joanna and Susanna (Lk 8:3); Joseph of Arimathaea (Jn 19:38); Nicodemus (Jn 3:1-2); Zacchaeus (Lk 19:8) All these experienced the meaning of breaking with the present socialreligious system and move to Jesus side. All of them, rich or poor, could proudly say: we have left everything and followed you (Mk 10:28). Jesus disciples were no saints They were just normal people with virtues and defects. Peter was generous and impulsive, but in times of danger he behaved like a coward (Mk 14:66-72); James and John were willing to suffer and die for Jesus, but were also very violent (Mk 3:17); Philip could guide others to Jesus, but was incapable of solving practical matters (Jn 6:7); Thomas was very stubborn, but admitted his mistakes (Jn 20:24-28). With this group, Jesus began the biggest revolution in human history. Jesus did not choose intellectuals and wise men, but those who attracted by the message of the Kingdom of God were willing to spend all their energy in spreading it to the world. How was the life of Jesus disciples like? The disciples, like Jesus, lived among the poor and the excluded by the social and religious authorities: sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers He was convinced that they possessed a great treasure inside and belonged to the Kingdom of God (Mt 11:25-26; Lk 21:1-4). They were called happy because they received with joy the Good News of the Kingdom by repenting and believing in the gospel. Jesus himself was poor. He did not have possessions nor a place were to spend the night (Lk 9:58). He requires from his disciples to choose 10

Preaching the Gospel today God instead of riches (Mt 6:24). Poverty is also an important requirement during the preaching of the gospel: no bread, no money, no luggage, no staff, no spare tunic or sandals... (Mt 10:9-10); they must put their trust in the hospitality of those who listen to their words, eat and drink what they are given, and take care of the sick and needy (Lk 10:5-9). Jesus, like the prophets, denounces the religious and political system that in the name of God excludes and marginalizes the poor, the weak, the needy, and the sinners from his love and forgiveness. What does Jesus require from his followers? Jesus requires three things: a) Radical change of mentality. Jesus often intervenes to change the wrong ideas or vision of his disciples: The ghetto mentality: it means to create a community separated from the rest of the people; not opened to others. Jesus teaches them that anyone who is not against us is for us (Mk 9:38-40). The superiority mentality: They think that they are better than others for being disciples of Jesus and therefore must be treated with hospitality and welcomed (Lk 9:51-54). If they are not, those people should be punished. The mentality of competition and fame: the disciples argue about is the first and the greatest among them (Mk 9:33-34). The greatest is the one who serves others, just as Jesus did (Mk 10:45). The mentality of excluding others: The disciples scolded the children (Mk10:14). Jesus said that the kingdom belongs to those like children. The mentality of following the ruling ideology: Everybody followed the ideas of society: keeping the law is more important than helping people in need; sickness comes from sins and bad behavior (Jn 9:3). Jesus taught them to be more critical with those ideas and see reality with different eyes, the eyes of God.

The disciples, by changing their mentality and accepting Jesus message, became the seed of the new community of the Kingdom of God. This new beginning brought also a new life style based on the teachings and actions of Jesus: 1. Fraternity: they are brothers. The titles of master, father or leader, cannot be accepted because their relationship is not based on wisdom, power or age, but on the idea of

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Preaching the Gospel today brotherhood (Mt 23:8-10). The special link between them is love. They must always be united in prayer, in good and bad times (Mk 14:33; Jn 15:15; Lk 22:28). 2. Equality between men and women. Even though Jesus chose twelve men, there are also women who follow him. They listen to his teachings and see his miracles; Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection (Mt 19:7-12; Lk 8:13). 3. Share their wealth. Nothing belongs to them anymore and must share with the poor (Mk 10:28). When travelling or preaching, they must put their trust in God providence and accept the hospitality of their listeners (Lk 10:7). 4. Power comes from service. The first and the greatest among the disciples is the one who serve others (Mk 10:44; Lk 22:25-26). 5. Power to forgive and reconcile. The disciples must be a true example of forgiveness and reconciliation. In this way, their testimony will reach all the homes of the world (Mt 16:19; 18:18; Jn 20:23). 6. Personal and communitarian prayer. Jesus prayed very often: alone on the mountains, with his disciples in the Temple (Jn 2:13; 7:14; 10:22-23), in the synagogue (Lk 4:16), in deserted places, before meals (Mk 6:41) They must follow Jesus example. 7. Joy and happiness. The disciples must be joyful because the Kingdom of God is theirs (Lk 10:20-24). Happiness must prevail even when facing suffering and persecution (Mt 5:11). b) Readiness for the mission. In Jesus time religion and politics oppressed the people and divided their society. This was not the kind of fraternity that God wanted for his holy people. In front of this situation, Jesus took the side of the poor, excluded, and oppressed because this is the mission he received from God, his Father, and invites his disciples to help him as well. The mission of the disciples is never finished. They need to follow a process of formation, learn to observe the present reality and the situation of the people. Being with Jesus is the only way they can learn how to proclaim the Kingdom of God. This mission is the reason why

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Preaching the Gospel today the community of the disciples was gathered around Jesus (Mk 1:17: fishers of people). The gospels offer a few examples on how Jesus prepared his disciples for that mission: since the beginning, he involved them in his public activity (Mk 6:7; Lk 9:1-2); when they returned from preaching the gospel, Jesus and the disciples made an evaluation of the results obtained (Lk 10:17-20); when they made a mistake, Jesus showed them the right path (Mk 10:14-15); taught them in private what they did not understand (Mk 4:34; 7:17; 10:10); prepared them for conflicts with the religious authorities (Mt 10:17-20; Jn 16:33); insisted on the importance of being awake and prayer (Mt 6:5-15; Lk 11:1-13). Jesus gave the disciples some instructions of what to do in certain missionary situations. These instructions are connected with two topics: a) what to do during the way; b) how to react in front of welcoming or rejection. a) Instructions for the journey: he instructed them not to take anything for the journey except a staff, no bread, no haversack, and no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, do not take a spare tunic (Mk 6:8-9 and parallels). The disciples cannot waste time with preparations; they only must take a staff to defend themselves against the thieves or wild beasts. The mission is urgent; there is no time for anything else. They should not worry about anything because God will provide for them. b) Instructions on the reaction in front of welcoming or rejection: when entering a place, village or town, if the missionaries are welcomed, they must stay in the same house until departure; if they are rejected, as they walk away should shake off the dust under their feet as evidence to them (Mk 6:10-11 and parallels). The version of Luke 10:5-12 presents two different locations: the house and the town. There, if they are welcomed, they must preach the message of peace and eat whatever they are offered. It forbids moving from house to house. In case of rejection, their peace will go back to them. In both cases, welcoming the disciples is the same as welcoming Jesus (Mt 10:40; Lk 10:16; Jn 13:20). c) Sharing Jesus destiny. Becoming a disciple of Jesus comes with the invitation to sharing his destiny. In truth, sharing his destiny is the normal consequence of sharing his life style. They will experience the rejection of the people, but they will enjoy a new relationship with God.

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Preaching the Gospel today Sharing Jesus destiny firstly means living in the spirit of the Beatitudes: put their love and trust in God. They enjoy this state of beatitude in their lives at the moment, but their joy will be complete when the Kingdom of God appears in power and might (Mt 19:27-30). Secondly, it means being rejected and put to death. Jesus life style brought him to the death on the cross (Mk 8:34-38; 9:35-37; 10:41-45), so they must be ready to accept the same fate as well. Indeed, it happened that way. They gave up their lives in order to serve Gods people. 5.2. THE GREAT COMMISSION Go and make disciples of all the nations (Mt 28:18-20) Everything begins with the Resurrection of Jesus. The encounter of the disciples with the risen Christ in Galilee is the last episode of the gospel of Matthew (28:16-20). This encounter had been predicted or announced three times already (26:32; 28:7; 28:10). This episode can be divided in four parts: Setting: the disciples journey from Jerusalem to Galilee and their reaction when seeing the risen Jesus (vv. 16-17). 1. Jesus reveals his universal authority (v. 18b). 2. The missionary commission (vv. 19-20a). 3. The promise of Jesus permanent presence and assistance (v. 20b). God, the Father, has named Jesus the Lord of the Universe whose authority has no limits. At this point, the disciples can truly see that he is the Son of God. Therefore, he gives them a missionary commission: go and make disciples of all the nations. They must go all over the world baptizing and teaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. They not only have to proclaim a message from Jesus, but also create a personal relationship with them, just as Jesus did when he chose the disciples to follow him. They must become a community united in love with Jesus, the only teacher, and with one another. This fraternal relationship will overcome all the differences of race, language, culture, religion Everyone is welcomed in the community of the disciples of Jesus. For that reason, the disciples can not stay at home, waiting for others to come to them; they must go to all the nations, they must be on the move, itinerant However, the disciples are just the first group to begin this mission; those who will believe in Jesus will later continue their missionary work. Every Christian must be a disciple and a missionary.

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Preaching the Gospel today In order to be disciples, they must be baptized and live according to Jesus teachings. Receiving baptism means belonging to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; enter his world; receive his protection and guidance; live in perfect harmony and communion with him. During Jesus public activity, the disciples only received the mission to preach; teaching belonged to Jesus alone (Mt 4:23; 26:55). Now, Jesus gives them the mission to teach which means to become the teachers of all the nations. The contents of their teaching are to observe all the commands that Jesus gave them which are included in the gospel. Jesus teachings are still useful and valuable today; they must be known, accepted, and put into practice by those who want to become his disciples. However, the words they preach must be put into practice through the proper actions. With his last words, Jesus offers his permanent and protective presence among the disciples. He will never abandon them. They will not be alone in their mission.

6 THE PREACHING OF THE GOOD NEWS IN THE EARLY CHURCH

6.1. PENTECOST: THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Even though Jesus sent the disciples to spread the good news all over the world, they still remained locked up in a room in Jerusalem because of their personal doubts about the mission and their fear of the Jews (see Jn 20:19.26). On the other hand, they were still waiting for the helper and guide that Jesus promised them: And now I am sending upon you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city, then, until you are clothed with the power from on high (Lk 24:49). Unless I go, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you When the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth (Jn 16:4b-15).

However, everything changed for the disciples at Pentecost or feast of Weeks. The Israelites celebrated this feast seven weeks after the Passover (on the fiftieth day) to give thanks to God for a good harvest (Ex 32:22; Lev 23:15-22). Later, the Jews added another meaning: the

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Preaching the Gospel today celebration of the Covenant at Sinai and the gift of the Law (Torah). By placing the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Luke emphasizes the fulfillment of Gods new covenant, as he promised to the prophets: Within them I shall plant my Law, writing it on their hearts (Jeremiah 31-34); I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you I shall put my spirit in you and make you keep my laws (Ezekiel 36:25-28). Consequently it is the Holy Spirit, not the Law, the one who shows the disciples Gods will and produces a great transformation in their lives. A detailed description of the coming of the Holy Spirit is found in Acts of the Apostles 2:1-47. The followers of Jesus (apostles, other disciples, women, and relatives) gathered in the room were Jesus had his Last Supper. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven, a violent wind, and the appearance of tongues of fire which rested on the head of each of them (Acts 2:1-3). These elements (sound, wind, and fire) normally indicate Gods manifestation and intervention in the world (see Ex 19:16-19; 1 Kings 19:11-13; Isaiah 66:15). The fact that everything comes from heaven indicates that it is a gift from God; therefore, the coming of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Jesus promise to his disciples (Acts 1:4.8). It is interesting the fact that the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire. Our tongue is essential in communicating and speaking with others. This fact shows the true meaning of the gift of the Spirit: the Spirit is not given to us for personal benefit, but to proclaim the good news of the gospel which transforms peoples lives and generates fraternity everywhere. The presence in Jerusalem of people from every country in the world (Acts 2:5-11) and their interest in listening to these men talking in different languages have a symbolic meaning: The origin of the Christian community is found in the presence and experience of the Holy Spirit. He gives the disciples the gift of speaking in tongues so that they can preach the gospel not only to the Jews of Jerusalem, but also to all the people of the world. The Kingdom of God belongs to the whole world, Jews and gentiles. It wants to bring people together, unite them in Gods name, and make them live according to its values: Love, peace, justice, freedom The disciples speak to the international crowd about the marvels of God, which means talking about the Fathers mercy, love, and compassion in accordance to Jesus words and actions. How did the crowd react to this amazing event? There was a double reaction: 1) many people were amazed, surprised, and perplexed to in front of this astonishing phenomenon. They were filled with questions; 2) others, 16

Preaching the Gospel today however, thought the disciples had been drinking too much wine. This reaction is the prediction of what will happen to the Christians who wish to preach the gospel throughout the world. Some people will welcome and accept it in the lives. Others, on the contrary, will reject it and refuse to follow it. In order to prove that they were not drunk, Peter, in the name of the disciples, began the first public proclamation of the good news of Jesus (in Greek: kerygma), which contains the main beliefs of the Christian faith (Acts 2: 14-41): 1. Fulfillment of Joels prophecy (Joel 3:1-5): The day of the Lord has come because he has already poured out his Spirit on all humanity. 2. This fulfillment has taken place through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 3. Because of the resurrection, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God and is the head of the new Israel (Christian community). 4. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide, teach, strengthen, and protect the new Christian community. 5. This new era will be completed with the return of Jesus in power and glory (Parousia). 6. This is the proper reaction from the listeners: a) repent from their sins; b) be baptized in Jesus name which effect is the forgiveness of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit; c) Consequence for those who follow this path: eternal salvation. The result of the experience of Pentecost and the first proclamation of the good news of Jesus is the creation and formation of the new Christian community (Acts 2:42-47; see also Acts 4:32-37 and 5:12-16). In these passages, Luke wants to offer an answer to the following question: What should the life of the new Christians be like? This is Lukes ideal vision or presentation of the four pillars of the Christian life. Everyone who joins the community must be faithful to them and persevere through frequent participation: 1. The teachings of the apostles: they are a summary of the actions and teachings of Jesus; furthermore, they provide a new reading of the Old Testament from Jesus perspective. 2. Fraternal community (koinonia): a life style based on love, friendship, sharing, and unity in the same faith. 3. The breaking of the bread: It refers to the way the first Christians celebrated the Eucharist (see Luke 24:30-35). 17

Preaching the Gospel today

4. Prayer: They prayed constantly in the Temple, but also in the houses of Christians. They praised God and were admired by everyone. 6.2. PAUL OF TARSUS: MODEL OF APOSTLE AND MISSIONARY In the history of the Christian Church, Paul is considered one of the greatest apostles and missionaries. He was the first one to leave the land of Israel in order to preach the gospel of Jesus to the gentiles and welcome them into the Christian community. For that reason he was given the title of apostle of the gentiles. In his letters, we can see the heart and the soul of the apostle. It is there where we will find the reasons for preaching the gospel and the necessary missionary attitudes required to do it, knowing that they could be the light to guide and strengthen our mission today. Lets see Pauls testimony on what the life of an apostle and missionary should be like: 1. Called to be an apostle (Romans 1:1) Pauls encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus (see Acts 9:1-9) was the end of his life as a persecutor of Christians and the beginning of a new life as a preacher of the gospel of Jesus, especially among the gentiles. He did not seek Jesus, but Jesus sought him for this mission. He was not an apostle by his own will, but by Gods will (1Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1). His call was a free gift from Gods mercy and grace: he did not deserve it, he was the worst of sinners (1Timothy 1:13-16). However, he had a clear revelation of the risen Jesus and the light of Christ began to shine in his heart. This light transformed his life and values completely (Philippians 3:5-8). For that reason Paul spent the rest of his life being a witness and messenger of the risen Jesus who changed his life. Paul was called for the mission of preaching the gospel among the gentiles (Galatians 1:16). He preaches Christ, who was sent by God for the salvation of the world. A personal encounter with Jesus, the Savior, will bring joy and happiness to those who welcome and accept him. This joy cannot be contained inside; it must be shared or communicated to others as well (Acts 4:20). a. Gods co-worker (1Corinthians 3:9): Paul was chosen by God to be his partner in the mission and placed his trust in him (1Corinthians 4:1). For that reason, he is both amazed and thankful (1Timothy 1:12). Furthermore, in front of such a great task, he feels incapable of fulfilling it with his poor human qualities and values. Consequently, God will give him strength and he will put his hard work 18

Preaching the Gospel today at his service (1Corinthians 3:5-7). God is the main character of the mission, Jesus is the only Savior, and Paul is just their faithful companion. In fact, Paul considers the apostolic mission and the Christian communities his great responsibility (1Corinthians 3:10-15). b. Ambassador for Christ (2Corinthians 5:20): Jesus has given Paul and the other apostles the power to speak and act in his name. They share the same authority that Jesus received from God, his Father (Jn 20:21). Whoever receives them, receives Jesus; whoever rejects them, rejects Jesus (Mt 10:40; Lk 10:16). Pauls energy comes from this conviction: he firmly believes that the power of Jesus is with him, guiding and giving him strength in his weaknesses (2Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 2:20). Paul is the apostle of Jesus Christ. c. Servant of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1): Paul belongs to Christ; he has been bought with his blood at the crucifixion; he is at his service and fulfills every task. Paul uses two terms to highlight his apostolic mission: 1) Servant (diakonos): He serves others in Jesus name and offers them what they need to have a good life (the gospel; the gift of the Spirit; the salvation for their lives); 2) Slave (doulos): Paul has offered his freedom and his dignity freely to Jesus and to those who receive the gospel. 2. The love of Christ is overwhelming (2Corinthians 5:14) Paul has experienced the love of Christ so intensely that now he only lives for Christ. Jesus has taken possession of his life. Pauls only purpose is to make sure that many people welcome and accept Jesus in their lives because he loved us first by dying on the cross for our salvation. Being a witness of Gods love for mankind through the sacrifice of Jesus, Paul decided to follow the same path in his missionary activity. He is willing to give up even his life for the sake of Jesus, the gospel, and the new Christian communities. In fact everything he does or says is filled with love for them (see 1Thessalonians 2:7; 1Corinthians 9:22; 2Corinthians 11:2; Romans 9:3). 3. Constant in prayer (Ephesians 6:18) Paul is aware that peoples conversion and desire of becoming a Christian are a free gift from God. So, he never stops praying that God may open the hearts of people to the preaching of the gospel. All his missionary activity is fruitful and productive because of prayer. Paul is a man of prayer and his prayer is essentially apostolic. His life of prayer was so intense that he had many visions and ecstasies

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Preaching the Gospel today (2Corinthians 12:1-6). At the same time, he never stopped thanking and praising God for his many gifts (Philippians 1:3; Ephesians 3:14). 4. We are the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15) In Pauls vision, the world is rotten because of sin and therefore it stinks (Romans 3:10f). His mission is to spread the good smell of Christ (his message) to the ends of the world through words and actions. His whole life is a reflection of his love for Christ and others. Furthermore, it should be the testimony of the whole community (fraternal life), not only Pauls, the one that spreads the message of Christ. They are new creatures now. Their good life style (love for one another) should attract the gentiles to believe in Jesus and join his Church (Philippians 2:14-16; 3:17). Acceptance of the gospel is the basic requirement to obtain salvation and eternal life; on the other side, rejection means walking in the path of failure and destruction. 5. I rejoice in my suffering for you (Colossians 1:24) Paul is the messenger of the gospel, but he also identifies himself with the one who sent him and his message (Jesus). He will experience in his own flesh the sufferings of Jesus. He carries in his body the marks of Jesus (Galatians 6:17), which refers to the scars left on his body due to the punishments endured for preaching the gospel. He wrote a list of those sufferings (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-27) which are the proof of the authenticity of his activity. Despite the physical pain, his greatest suffering was spiritual or moral: his responsibility for the well-being of the new communities; his sadness because the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah; failure in his apostolic work; personal weaknesses and defects Paul understands well the mystery of the cross: the greatest sign of human weakness (cross) has become the instrument for mankinds redemption or salvation. Jesus example gives him strength and keeps him moving forward. 6. Prisoner of the Spirit (Acts 20:22) Paul believes the Spirit is one of Jesus greatest gifts. This Spirit renews mankind from inside and makes them capable of following Gods will (Romans 8:1-4). In fact, it was the Spirit who chose Paul for preaching the gospel among the gentiles and he always followed his action. Because he is filled with the Spirit, it tells him what to say and where to go (Acts 16:6-7). For that reason, at the end of his life, he advises Timothy to follow the light of the Spirit, the giver of strength to preach the gospel and to bear the sufferings caused by it (2 Timothy 1:6-8). 7. My co-workers in Christ Jesus (Romans 16:3) 20

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Paul is not a sniper. He looks for co-workers and companions to help him in preaching the gospel: they proclaim, pray, travel, and work together (Philippians 1:5). They comfort one another in times of persecution and suffering as well. They work as a real team. He also keeps in touch with the rest of the apostles and visits them when he can. We know the names of some of his companions: Barnabas, Mark, Silas, Timothy As an apostolic team, they can enjoy the goodness of the fraternal life and put their qualities or virtues to the service of the community and the gospel. In fact, in Pauls view, every Christian is an active preacher through prayer, words, and good actions (the example of Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18). Every Christian should put his gifs and talents to the service of God, the community, and the gospel (1 Corinthians 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:7-13).

7 PREACHING THE GOSPEL TODAY

7.1. A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS In order to preach the gospel today, we need first a personal encounter with Jesus, the risen Christ. This means to experience him alive and present in our hearts. He is our teacher and our savior. In other words, he appeared to us as he did to Paul on the way to Damascus (Acts 9:19). We have truly felt his loving presence and heard his sweet voice. This encounter with Jesus has transformed my life completely. I have become a new person: I have left everything behind in order to follow Jesus. He is the source of my joy and happiness I cannot live without him.

7.2. TRUE DISCIPLES OF JESUS: COME AND FOLLOW ME! The result of falling in love with Jesus is to become his followers or disciples. Our wish is to spend all the time with him so that we can understand him better and love him more. He is our teacher, so we must listen to his words and keep them close to our hearts; we must imitate his example as well. Therefore, we need to study the Bible, read books, and attend courses or speeches about Jesus and his

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Preaching the Gospel today message. A good disciple knows Jesus as well as he knows himself and is always ready to receive his teachings in his heart and mind. 7.3. CALLED TO BE APOSTLES: EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A MISSIONARY Jesus called his disciples to be with him (companions) and to send them to preach the gospel (apostles). He was aware of the impossibility of completing the mission assigned by God. The apostles would be in charge of continuing the proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the world. Today, Jesus calls us, priests, sisters, and the laity, to be apostles by bringing him and his message to the people of Taiwan. We are all missionaries! We must bring his saving words and healing power to our families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and all those who meet everyday If we truly believe Jesus is our savior, the reason of our happiness, then we will never be ashamed of sharing with others our faith and beliefs. On the contrary, we will look for opportunities to spread this good news. 7.4. A NEW PENTECOST: THE WRITTEN LETTERS KILL, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE (2 Cor 3:6) Before the feast of Pentecost, the disciples were locked in a house for fear of the Jews After receiving the Holy Spirit, they were filled with courage to preach the gospel and were willing to suffer for Jesus. It was the Holy Spirit the producer of such an amazing transformation. Nowadays, it seems that the voice of the Spirit has been silenced by the traditions and regulations of the Church. We have some many rules, do the same activities, and follow the patterns of the past. The Church is becoming old, dusty, and many people are leaving it. It is not the home where they feel comfortable, safe, and happy. Therefore, we need a new Pentecost when the Spirit will bring fresh air and new life to the Church. He will be our guide, helper, and strength. We will listen to his voice and act according to his will. He will give Christians courage to preach the gospel all over the world; they will be fearless and unstoppable. He will send prophets to be an example and light for others to follow. He is the most powerful weapon of the apostolic mission. 7.5. MIRRORS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS: FRATERNAL COMMUNITY

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Preaching the Gospel today Our local churches should be a reflection of the life style of the early Christian Church. They showed us the four pillars of the perfect Christian community: 1. Faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus: We need to learn as much as possible about Jesus life, his words and actions. The more we know Jesus the better our faith will be. What can we do? Read the Bible often; read commentaries or books about the Bible; read the documents of the Church; attend Bible courses, retreats, conferences, speeches Dedicate time to know Jesus and your faith. 2. Fraternal community: Our communities should be an oasis of love, unity, peace, justice, help, happiness, sharing, generosity, compassion, forgiveness In other words, we should have one heart and one soul. In this way, our life will be attractive to those people who are looking for a different life style and they will join our community. 3. The Breaking of the bread (Eucharist): The center of our community life is the Eucharist where we celebrate Jesus real presence among us. He is risen. He is alive and brings life to the community. Therefore, our Eucharist celebrations should be filled with joy, music, energy, laughter, happiness Sunday mass should not be like attending a funeral. 4. Prayer: There are two types of prayer: personal and communitarian. Both types are necessary for a Christian to deepen his faith, evaluating his life style, and knowing Gods will for him and for the community. So, we must find the time to pray privately and also join prayer groups where we can share our faith with others. Living according to these values is the best propaganda or publicity we can make for those who do not believe in Jesus or those who are looking for a new life style Since our values are different from those proposed by our society today (money, pleasure, fame, power, beauty), for sure many people will be curious, attracted, and willing to join the Christian community.

7.6. CARING FOR THE YOUTH: THE FUTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

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Preaching the Gospel today A fact: our communities are getting older and smaller. We do not see many children and young people attending or participating in the activities of our local community. We must realize that the children and the youth are the heart and the future of the community. No youth, no future Consequently, we all should find the way to bring them back to the church, welcome them, and make them feel important in the community. They should be the center of the church: they bring fresh air to the community (joy, new ideas, creative activities) and they can invite their friends and classmates to attend our celebrations and activities 7.7. FAMILY CRISIS? BEING A LOVING FAMILY Someone once said: Change the world, but start at home. Nowadays, because the family crisis (divorce, violence, abuse), our Christian families must stand up and show the world that Jesus values are alive in them. They are an oasis of love, peace, and harmony, where every member grows up physically and spiritually healthy. Surely they will have to face many problems, difficulties, and sufferings, but they will always find a loving and caring way to solve them. Their life style will be the mirror and the model for those families who are not Christians yet. They will want to imitate their example. This is nowadays one essential way to preach the gospel among friends, relatives, and neighbors. 7.8. GOOD SAMARITANS: CHARITY, THE SOUL OF THE MISSION If we wish to be called disciples of Jesus, we need to do what he did. The gospels tell us that he was always surrounded by sick people, sinners, poor, needy, children, women In other words, he lived among those who were excluded or marginalized by the religious and political leaders. He showed them Gods compassion by healing and liberating them from sin and all forms of evil. Following Jesus example, we show Gods love, forgiveness, and compassion for his people through our missionary work with those who are still excluded or marginalized by our society today. Lets see some examples: prisoners; homeless; mentally or physically sick; drugaddicts; drunkards; homosexuals; AIDS patients; unemployed; elderly; poor; migrants; abused children; battered wives; suicidal; those suffering from natural disasters Every Christian community, as a group and individually, should be committed to solve these problems both inside and outside the local church. A loving and caring action for someone in need speaks louder than a thousand words. These loving 24

Preaching the Gospel today actions are one of the best ways of preaching the gospel to those who do not believe in Jesus, especially because nowadays many people just think and care for themselves. 7.9. DIALOGUE WITH OTHER RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS Taiwan is a country that welcomes many different religions. The most important are: Buddhism (35%); Taoism (33%); I-Kuan Tao (3.5%); Protestant (2.6%); Catholic (1.3% = 298,000 members)1. Catholics are a small minority in Taiwan. Therefore, we cannot live isolated or separated from the rest of the people. On the contrary, we must build bridges of dialogue with the other religions and Christian denominations so that we can share our beliefs, our similarities and differences. In that way, we can have a more accurate understanding of their faith and vice versa (for example: Catholics worship the Virgin Mary; Protestants worship Jesus). We can work together to make this world a better place for everyone to live in: love, justice, and peace. We can show the world that despite our differences we are still tolerant, respectful, understandings, and welcoming. In other words, we put the needs and happiness of all human beings above our own personal beliefs. 7.10. RAISING OUR VOICE: MODERN METHODS IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL It is obvious that the best way of proclaiming the gospel is this: Practice what you preach. When we live according to our beliefs, our message is strong, powerful, and people accept it. However, in this way we may just be able to reach a small number of people. Since our mission is to bring the good news to the whole world, today we could use modern methods to spread it out fast and touch more people. Lets see some examples: a. Mass Media: Television, Radio, Newspapers, Books, Magazines, Videos, Cartoons, Movies, Music b. Internet: Websites, blogs, social networks (twitter, face-book) c. Creating non-governmental organizations (NGO) with social and charitable purposes: raising money for the poor; working in a poor country for free; doing missionary work abroad; use your talents or gifts to help the needy
The statistics were issued by the Taiwanese Department of Civil Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, in the year 2005.
1

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Preaching the Gospel today d. Active presence in universities: organize cultural and educational activities from a Christian perspective. e. Going outdoors: play music in parks; organize parties and activities outside; play sports (basket, soccer, baseball) 7.11. SAVE THE WORLD: TAKE CARE OF THE EARTH (ECOLOGY) After creating the world, God gave human beings the responsibility of taking care of it (Genesis 1:26-28). In the 21st century, we realize that we have not done a good job. In fact, we could say that the earth is sick, and life in our planet is threatened. There are many phenomenons that should keep us worry about our future on earth: global warming; pollution of the water, soil, and air; the extinction of species (whales, sharks, panda bear); wars and nuclear weapons; the death of millions of people every year because of hunger or disease (60,000,000); the increase of natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, typhoons, tsunamis) It is our obligation, as Christians, to teach our children the love and care for the earth and all its inhabitants; we must also denounce and accuse those businessmen, governments, and companies that provoke the slow destruction of the planet with their business and activities. We, as children of God, must be responsible, take the challenge, and make sure that humanity (everyone) has a green and comfortable place to live in the near future.

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