Marriage in the Context of the New Evangelization

Abstract

The essence of the new evangelization is to guide modern man to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. New Evangelization is a clear call to the Church to return to its roots, so that its members can chose Christianity as a way of life. This must be their personal choice. In the letter announcing the Year of the Faith, Benedict XVI emphasizes that “knowledge of the content of faith is important to express their consent, so as to fully, by intellect and will, accept what the Church proposes.” What does the Pope mean? Many Catholics say about themselves: “I'm a believer, but not a practicing one,” whereas today we have the phenomenon of people practicing but not believing. They believe in God, but do not believe God. They do not believe that life in him and with him will give them happiness and fullness of life. The essence of Christianity is a personal bond with God. Being a disciple of Christ is not something abstract or an academic degree, which can be obtained, but a form of life, which manifests itself primarily in the relationship. Faith, of which we speak today, is largely dead. Why, in spite of our ministry, commitment and pastoral activities, people do not repent, even moving away from God and the Church? The family is a special place of evangelization: “The family, like the Church, is to be regarded as a field, into which the Gospel is brought and where the Gospel takes root. In a family, conscious of this mission, all the members evangelize and are evangelized. This is what takes place in the family – just like in the Church – the process of evangelization: the testimony, preaching and the sacraments. Society, the Church, form a family, hence the new evangelization is primarily concerned with families. The family is the main concern of the New Evangelization. We must look forward and see the Church as it will be 20 or 30 years from now. The way we build today will shape the image of the Church in the next generation. Does the Great Commission of Jesus, addressed to his disciples: “Go and preach the Gospel” (Mk 16:15) also resound in the “domestic church”, which is evangelized and evangelizing? This commission impels to action!