In the hours and days following the release of his exhortation, any number of commentators have attempted to put Pope Francis in their camp. He is against abortion, so he's a conservative. He criticizes economic systems that exploit the poor, so he's a liberal. While secular commentators perhaps need some category in which to place Pope Francis, for Catholics to engage in this useless pursuit only diverts us from the path where Pope Francis is leading us. And where is he leading us?
He is asking his brothers and sisters in the faith to return to the encounter with Christ. It is fidelity to this encounter that brings joy and freedom to the human heart. This fidelity to the encounter with Christ cannot firstly be something imposed by command or implemented by decree. The New Evangelization is firstly a work of God. It is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and this personal encounter awakens in the heart of the believer a profound joy that must be shared.
Pope Francis is calling Catholics to once again be overwhelmed by the encounter with Christ and to allow this encounter to move them to share the joy of the encounter with others. Unfortunately, we Catholics have forgotten the primacy of this encounter. Instead of fidelity to the encounter with Christ, we have focused on, what the pope calls, secondary aspects. This is not to say that the secondary aspects aren't important. But, they are not primary. The more convinced Catholics are of the primacy of the encounter with Christ and live from that encounter, the more convincing they can be of the secondary aspects of the Catholic life.
Pope Francis recalls that the apostles never forgot the moment when they encountered Christ. "It was around four in the afternoon" when John and Andrew met the Lord. It was this personal encounter with Christ that changed the lives of those two men. It was this encounter that caused them to stay with Christ and to follow Him. This is the method of the Christian life. It is not an invention of Pope Francis. Pope Francis is simply calling us to rediscover the original method.
Sometimes, we get sidetracked by those who are antagonistic toward the Church. Instead of the conversation being about Jesus Christ, the media (with our cooperation) makes the whole story of the Church some controversial comments made by a pope, a bishop, a priest, a nun, or a layperson. For days, everything swirls around that one statement and this becomes the face of the Church. Sometimes, we do it to ourselves. Instead of focusing upon the encounter with Christ and making this our primary message, we turn programs, structures, and plans into our entire message. We try to get people excited about our latest church project or plan, but we leave Christ aside. Had Andrew and John encountered a program or a plan that day, they may have been interested for a while, but it would not have filled their hearts with an abiding joy. The only plans and programs worth pursuing are those that facilitate a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
Those of us who are clergy and pastoral workers are particularly susceptible to an "idolatry of programs." This happens when we allow our programs and plans to become the defining characteristic of our parishes, institutions, and dioceses. Instead of facilitating an encounter with Christ, they can become obstacles to the encounter. All of our efforts and energies are expended on stirring up excitement for various programs and plans and we set Christ aside for another day. Or, we convince ourselves that once our programs are in place, then we can focus on Christ. But, we never get there. Soon enough, sustaining our programs, plans, and structures becomes our primary task.
Obviously, programs, plans, and structures can be helpful in facilitating the encounter with Christ, but all too often, we allow these things to substitute for the encounter with Christ. If this is the path we choose, it will not only leave our churches empty, but it also will leave the human heart empty. Where then shall we focus our energies?
Gazing upon Christ and listening to His Word. Remembering and proclaiming the joyful news of the Gospel. Loving and serving the poor. This is Francis' proposal. Within this simple formula there is also an inherent challenge: we must divest ourselves of whatever stands in the way. Each of us--in our persons and in our institutions--must be willing to sacrifice whatever idols we have established that hinder others from encountering the tender gaze of Christ.
"The Joy of the Gospel" offers no small opportunity for an examination of conscience on the part of all of us. I suspect that no honest person could read it and not find within its pages a dozen personal challenges from the pope. Francis has a beautiful way of challenging us not in some argumentative or combative way, but of holding out to us the opportunity for something better. Why is Francis so attractive to us? Perhaps it is because he is a man who has encountered the gaze of Christ, who daily lives the memory of this encounter, who shares the joy of this encounter, and who loves the poor. Additionally, he is a man who is willing to divest himself of everything that he thinks may hinder others from encountering the gaze of Christ. We all like these things about Francis and we find them attractive. Go and do likewise.
Those of us who are clergy and pastoral workers are particularly susceptible to an "idolatry of programs." This happens when we allow our programs and plans to become the defining characteristic of our parishes, institutions, and dioceses. Instead of facilitating an encounter with Christ, they can become obstacles to the encounter. All of our efforts and energies are expended on stirring up excitement for various programs and plans and we set Christ aside for another day. Or, we convince ourselves that once our programs are in place, then we can focus on Christ. But, we never get there. Soon enough, sustaining our programs, plans, and structures becomes our primary task.
Obviously, programs, plans, and structures can be helpful in facilitating the encounter with Christ, but all too often, we allow these things to substitute for the encounter with Christ. If this is the path we choose, it will not only leave our churches empty, but it also will leave the human heart empty. Where then shall we focus our energies?
Gazing upon Christ and listening to His Word. Remembering and proclaiming the joyful news of the Gospel. Loving and serving the poor. This is Francis' proposal. Within this simple formula there is also an inherent challenge: we must divest ourselves of whatever stands in the way. Each of us--in our persons and in our institutions--must be willing to sacrifice whatever idols we have established that hinder others from encountering the tender gaze of Christ.
"The Joy of the Gospel" offers no small opportunity for an examination of conscience on the part of all of us. I suspect that no honest person could read it and not find within its pages a dozen personal challenges from the pope. Francis has a beautiful way of challenging us not in some argumentative or combative way, but of holding out to us the opportunity for something better. Why is Francis so attractive to us? Perhaps it is because he is a man who has encountered the gaze of Christ, who daily lives the memory of this encounter, who shares the joy of this encounter, and who loves the poor. Additionally, he is a man who is willing to divest himself of everything that he thinks may hinder others from encountering the gaze of Christ. We all like these things about Francis and we find them attractive. Go and do likewise.
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