Dissertation Walter Moschetti in 3rd. Speaking National Symposium held on 30 and 31 October 2004 at the Teatro La Comedia in the city of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
There are several factors that put in crisis to Christian preaching in the contemporary world. Among them we should mention from the ministers themselves and from the world. There are some gaps in the preachers: the lack of adequate preparation, lack of biblical update, the lack of enthusiasm, the inability to properly communicate with listeners. There are some external, such as secularization, atheism, ideology. (1)
No doubt, "the preaching of priests in the present circumstances the world is not seldom very difficult "(PO 4)
The problem is not new. The prophet Jeremiah was overwhelmed by his responsibility to say," Every time I speak of is to yell: violence, devastation. Then I said I will not mention more or speak more in the name of God. But it was in my heart a burning fire shut up in my eggs, I tried to restrain him, but he could not "(20, 8-9).
This burning fire gives overwhelming certainty in the midst of many difficulties, to serve the Word of God.
The preacher, a man of God, has been constituted "herald, apostle and teacher" of the Good News.
San Augustine a page of De Catechizandis rudibus, analyzes the conditions and situation of one who communicates the Word, the catechist or preacher, from his personal experience. He writes:
"You see, either I'm happy with my sermons rarely. I have all my heart set on what I enjoy in my heart, before you start exposing it in words, and if I do not say how I feel, I sad to see that my language has not lived up to my heart. I wish that everyone who listens to me understand what I understand, but that does not happen, and I realize it's because of my words ... Therefore, Sometimes, it hurts us see that our audience does not understand, although we try, as it were, to be at your level threading our way with difficulty between syllables ... "" Thought is not the same when expressed in words. Why it is so upset about: it is more comfortable silence ... But it is also beautiful to feel how it flows within us charity, the stronger the more generous has been to adapt to others ".
The preacher is a person who having endorsed the Word and feeling inside, live effort, drama, risk and adventure of having to communicate it to others, and accept this mandate.
"Woe to me if I preach the Gospel".
This exclamation of St. Paul indicates that the preacher feels his ministry as a necessity, though perhaps rather keep quiet because he realizes that words are inadequate, they are misunderstood, that are not understood. I would not have to pronounce them, however, makes you feel overcome with the desire of this fire that wants to communicate.
This preaching is a quality, a subtle vibration that somehow permeates every single word uttered in the name of God.
The heart is at the bottom of any communication about God.
"Cor ad cor loquitur" is an expression of St. Augustine in principle concerns the relationship between God and man, and can be applied to man of God speaking to another man loved by God.
"Cor ad cor loquitur:" The heart speaks to heart. " Means that the communication coming from inside a person and look inside the other.
can refer to our experience as listeners, there are things we hear because we realize we have some importance, and though we are tired, distracted or fatigued, we strive to pay attention.
Sometimes we miss it, there comes a point in time in which spontaneously listened with interest, because it conveys something. Our attention becomes quality, the words reach us, go to the heart as a message. This is the "cor ad cor loquitur" the real key to understanding the mystery of communication, especially when we express realities regarding the person intimately. For example, the mystery of God.
In Christian preaching has to be something from the heart, which represents the heart, which speaks to the heart.
From the heart. Christian preaching comes from the inner life of deep conviction, and also the greatest suffering.
means, in short, it takes preparation. Without preparation, we run the risk of speaking in a superficial way, moved by the impressions of the moment, saying the few ideas that come to mind.
To enter the heart we have to do a certain way because it is not easy "fish" within us: we need a time of reflection.
often make mistakes because, under the urgency of a situation, we ask: What can I say about this topic on this page of the Gospel? This is where we begin to make mistakes, the same question, which is not spiritual, not superficial. Before
should ask two questions.
The first: What does the Word of God? I first read it carefully, almost as if for the first time, underlining, tasting, helping with some commentary on the text. Thus, is renewed in knowledge of that word that is always new.
The second: What about me? Will I shake, touch me, touch me or not, or does not seem to care?
In fact, if I do not care, nor will interest my audience. We are in the same situation and together we must ask why is this word we find it rare, and what are the prejudices that prevent us from hosting it.
Now I can make the third question: What can I say about this word, and filtered inside? Preaching
It has a heart and if it does not, the wandering preacher, and frayed out phrases, put one next to each other without understanding what really is to communicate.
At heart. Communication should be able to achieve what the person lives or intends to live in his inner life.
inner life in its broadest sense: impulses towards God and internal decay, anxiety, darkness, fears. What matters is to reach this person's heart.
Today we often wonder how we could speak to modern man, technological, post-industrial man, post-Christian. The solutions may be many (inculturation, cultural dialogue ...) but the root of everything is what we have said, entering into itself, revealing the inner life and communicating can hope to find true communication.
is not disguising transform language, but of us to rely on the inner life, which is identical in their sorrows, sufferings and aspirations, that of all other men, without exception.
not only be screaming or writing on the walls "God exists" as we help people to believe in God. We will have to demonstrate that God comes in all sizes and transforms daily, which is the God who has entered our lives and transformed.
This experience of God is what we are invited to communicate seamlessly fulfill the ministry of preaching the Gospel, plunges in holiness and wisdom of the Word of God, to communicate with due dignity and competence. To germinate the seed of the Word, feeling the weight of effort and work, and the joy of being ambassadors for Christ who continues to communicate, through us, the Word of Life and Salvation.
ringing in our ears the words of Paul VI:
"preserve the delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing, even when you have to sow in tears." BIBLIOGRAPHY
San Augustine: De Doctrina Christiana, De Catechizandis rudibus; De Magistro.
St. John Chrysostom: Dialogue on the priesthood
San Francisco de Sales: Letters to Mgr Fremyot on preaching
Gunthör: Christian preaching. Guadalupe
CELAM: homily. Bogotá 1983
Schrr: Preaching in the Twentieth Century Christian
Martini: The priest as a communicator. Moioli
PPC 1996: The spirituality of the preacher
Cifelli: Announcing the Kingdom
______________________ (1) From "The Parish Directory" of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires (1978), n.100
0 comments:
Post a Comment