There is a reality that identifies us: we are Christians. From this experience of faith we exercise our duty of journalists, participants in the task of evangelization of the Church.
In light of the figure of St. Paul the Apostle-communicator, whom we celebrate the two thousandth anniversary of his birth, we see our mission and reflect on her to be faithful to our vocation.
The Christian life begins with an experience of encounter. In the way of life and our own personal history, God is present, inviting, enticing, engaging ...
Paul's conversion, as recounted in the Acts (from 9.1 to 19) shows the transforming reality of an experience that will radically change the life of Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, to become the Apostle to the Gentiles. Blindness which was seen to shine, by faith, a new light.
Jesus called him to share his mission. Paul himself recognized this mission as a vocation: "... chosen to proclaim the Good News" (Rom 1.1).
us are also urged by the Lord's command: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). And to fulfill this order means we have more than that was Paul. Today's letters, preaching, travel-methods used by the Apósotol to evangelize, we make easy, fast, attractive and influential through the use of powerful means of social communication, and we have received gifts, talents, skills that enable us to approach the man Today the message of Jesus Christ with the language and the modern means by which we communicate today. They are gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes, as taught to us by the Apostle: "The Spirit gives one the wisdom to speak, to another to teach science. To him the gift of healing, one the gift of prophecy, to another the gift of tongues ... "(cf. 1 Cor 12, 8ff). Not forgetting of course, that the most precious gift that we hope is the gift of love ... because I am nothing without love. (Cf. 1 Cor 13).
From our unique way of communicating will depend on the proclaimed word, written or planned to take place in the heart of man. Our straightforward language, clear, dynamic, tailored to the audience or audience, it shall make the Lord's message to those to whom they are contacted. Clearly
St. Paul says: "If I were to see them and spoke with an incomprehensible language, what would be gained if my word will not furnish or revelation, or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? The same will happen with the musical instruments, eg the flute or the harp. If the notes do not sound distinctly, no one recognizes what is running. For if the trumpet makes a sound confusing, who is scheduled to ship combat?. That happens to you: if they speak in an intelligible, how will understand what they say? Would be talking in vain. If I do not know the meaning of words, be like a stranger to me and he will speak for me "(1 Cor 14.6 to 11).
We received a mandate. Our ministry is a vocation. We were called by Jesus and the Church sent us this mission. Today feel deep in the heart that have been chosen and trained to perform this task. The Church confirmed This divine choice, encouraging and giving us the place we have, to spread with dignity and competence to the Word of God through what we write, say or show.
Our hard, committed and passionate mission will require a thorough knowledge of the reality that we must proclaim the Gospel, which we imbue with Gospel values. Our changing culture requires us to be aware of situations that appear to respond from our faith. We can not live for a spiritualism that isolate us, but, with steadfast in the Lord we are to walk firmly the realities of the world, critical thinking and comprehension skills, tolerance and dialogue.
This is the zeal that prompted Paul's mission: "As I became a free slave of all, to win as many as possible. I became a Jew to win Jews to the Jews, I went to the law in order to win those who are subject to the law and I became weak with the weak, to win the weak. I did everything to everyone, to win at least some, at any price "(1 Cor 9, 19-22).
Because it is so important our task-mission received from the Lord and encouraged by the Church can not communicate in any way. We aspire to excellence in Catholic communications. Our style of communication should be exemplary. They show the dignity and richness of the Word of God.
"Try to be a model for creating them, in conversation, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Not ruin the spiritual gift within you. Watch your behavior and your doctrine. Works well if you will save yourself and save to listen to you "(cf. 1 Tim 4.12 to 16).
why we have to look every day to enable us to properly use the word, writing, image and even new technologies. The Catholic community must be technically qualified for this task that requires constant creativity in the service of the Kingdom. We generate original ideas, entertaining, able to reach the heart of our party and transform your life with the quickening power of the Gospel. The younger should seek to achieve a university or tertiary qualifications in this field. We lack dedicated professionals to live this apostolate with conviction, consistency and professional quality. We often lack the necessary cunning of Jesus speaking to challenge to evangelism.
course, not enough technical training. Not only must you acquire a good language, have a good voice, write correctly or display properly in the media. You have to have something to say. Hence, it is so important doctrinal training. And this is a training permanent. Today, not enough to have done a Bible course, or seminar of catechesis, or even be a professor of theology ... Every day we read, study, investigate, to "give reasons for our faith," as Saint Paul tells us. We support the truth we proclaim. The Church in its long tradition has developed numerous magisterial documents argue its dogmas and moral. We must always go to those sources. We can not be "opinólogos" as many in the media. Each issue we try to be treated with responsibility, because we are committed to the truth.
In exercising our task, we are putting the spotlight on our light, the light of Jesus. They are our good works that should shine so that men may believe to see us act, "and taught us the same Jesus. But how hard is it to be so exposed in the media, glass transformed the world today, without overpowering the one who is the true Light.
"We are the fragrance of Christ for God" (2 Cor 13:15)
A sin in which we can fall as journalists is the lack of humility. "Appear" in an environment puts us in a prominent place. We are not always prepared for this public display. Thus, humility moderates the appetite we have to excel, counter arrogance, pride, vanity. If we are not aware, as John the Baptist that we are only the voice of who is the Word, we enceguecerán the applause and compliments you often receive from our partners. It is true that encourages our job to know that our receivers receive our welcome message, but it is always the risk of wanting to "appear." There would be fruitless our apostolate and evangelization would be incomplete or you will see us and not Jesus Christ, even running the risk of accommodating the message to "save face" with whom we hear or read.
Paul gives the example: "When I visited to announce the mystery of God, did not get the prestige of eloquence or wisdom. On the contrary, I did not know anything outside of Jesus Christ and him crucified. So, I stood before you weak, fearful and hesitant. My message and my preaching had nothing of the argument presuasiva of human wisdom, but they were demonstrating the power of the Spirit, so that you do not base their faith in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God "(1 Cor 2, 1-5)
This reflection makes us conclude that only the Holy evangelize, for the real announcement is to be made by word and example. Think
our identity as Catholic communicators is to think of our unique way of holiness, that St. Paul draws on a text which is real life program for the communicator Catholic:
"Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not ever. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another, are unwilling to stand, please call up to the humblest. Presumed not wise. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not be overcome by evil. On the contrary, overcome evil by doing good "(Rom 12, 14-18.21)
This is the path of constant conversion which must be. The Catholic community is a being animated by the Spirit "(cf. Rom 8.9) that is modeled in this world ... but inside lives transformed by renewing their minds to discern is the will of God, which is good, what pleases and perfect (Rom crf. 12.2). Therefore should be examined to see if it is in the true faith, put to the test seriously (cf. 2 Cor. 13.5). And throw decidedly toward the goal to win the prize of the heavenly calling that God has done in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3.12 to 16)
Our mission is therefore a necessity: "Woe to me if I preach the Gospel! "(1 Cor 9.16), but because of it we have to suffer ridicule, misunderstanding, persecution or even death. Ironically these were the motives of Paul's boast, "...¿ they ministers of Christ? Again I speak as a fool, I am more than them. Much more work, more for the times that I was a prisoner, much more from the beating I received. Often I was close to death, I have been beaten five times by the Jews thirty-nine shots, three times was scourged, once I was stoned, shipwrecked three times, and spent a day and a night in the middle of the sea. In my many travels, I spent dangers in rivers, dangers from robbers, danger from my fellow (...), tired and weary, sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, frequent fasting, cold and nakedness (... .) If there is something to boast about something, I will glory in my infirmities "(cf. 2 Cor 11.23 to 30).
But all this, Paul does not support for the minor disappointment: "If our Gospel is still impenetrable, it is only for those who are perishing, to unbelievers, whom the god of this world has blinded the understanding. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and we are not only servers ... Because the same God who said, 'shines light in darkness', is what made her shine light in our hearts to shine the knowledge of the glory of God, reflected in the face of Christ "(2 Cor4, 3-6).
This prophecy of hope must burn in the heart of the community and not stop it. Given the anxiety they generate so much evil present in the world, we can not silence the Good News that has captured our life ... But as this good news is opposed by the calamities that announce only destruction and death, we wear the armor of the Christian, to continue our work with enthusiasm, conviction and joy.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord with the strength of his power. Put on the armor of God, to withstand the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this dark world and against evil spirits that inhabit the space.
Therefore, take the armor of God, to withstand in the evil day and to stand after having overcome all obstacles. Stand up, girded with the belt of truth and wearing the breastplate of righteousness. Fit your feet with the zeal for spreading the Good News of peace. Always have the shield of faith, with which they can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God "(Eph. 4.10 to 17) .-
