As we continue our series looking at Pope Francis’ Wednesday audiences on “The Passion for Evangelization,” we consider the next vital step for understanding evangelization and apostolic zeal — “Jesus, teacher of proclamation”.
In order to understand how we should talk about Jesus, we should go back to His first announcement, which contains the essence of what He wants to say about Himself. After reading a passage from Isaiah, Jesus delivers a ‘‘sermon’’ composed of a single sentence: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk. 4:21).
Throughout the January 25 audience, Pope Francis identifies five essential elements of this initial announcement for what we must keep in mind whenever we talk about Jesus: Joy, deliverance, light, healing, and wonder.
Joy
The first element to consider is joy. Pope Francis said that “Christians can speak of beautiful things, but it is all in vain if the news he conveys is not joyful”. To put it simply, the Gospel cannot come through to others if joy is lacking. St. John of the Cross said, “The soul of the one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing”. As Christians, we have cause to be joyful because we know of God’s infinite and ever present love for us. When we live as witnesses to our faith, we should not do so with fear, hesitance, or indifference, but with joy!
Deliverance
Jesus came to free us; He was sent “to proclaim and release captives”. This is why the next element of conveying the good news is deliverance. Pope Francis explained that “this means that one who proclaims God cannot proselytize, no, cannot pressure others, no, but relieve them: Not impose burdens, but take them away; bearing peace, not bearing guilt”. Our communication of the good news must include the message of liberation.
Light
The third element is light. We have probably heard that Jesus said He came to bring “sight to the blind”. However, this goes far beyond physical sight. Pope Francis explains that Jesus brought a light that “‘makes one see life in a new way”. Take a moment to consider just how incredible this is and what it means for us. Pope Francis stated that “Life is no longer a blind advance toward nothingness”. Christ reveals our purpose and invites us to partake in His divine plan, in His divine nature. Life is no longer reduced to our immediate worries and concerns. Our lives are not defined by our finances, health, or success. Life is no longer controlled by chance. Instead, life is now about love.
To beautifully summarize these first three elements, we can look to St. John Paul II, who said, “[This joy] makes us see that Jesus did not come to lay burdens upon us. He came to teach us what it means to be fully happy and fully human”.
Healing
The next aspect is healing. Jesus came to heal us. More incredibly, for this healing, we have to pay nothing, we do nothing to earn it, yet He always heals and does so gratuitously. Guilt and sin weigh deeply on our hearts, and our past leaves scars that can seem irreparable. The world can’t offer answers to these kinds of burdens, but Jesus can. “So to accompany someone to an encounter with Jesus is to bring them to the doctor of the heart,” said Pope Franics. Lay down your own burdens before the Lord and experience the healing that only comes from resting in His infinite forgiveness and loving embrace. When we share the Good News, we have the opportunity to invite others to partake in this incredible gift.
Wonder
The final element is wonder. Pope Francis teaches us that “Christ is the Jubilee of every day, every hour, drawing you near, to caress you, to forgive you . . . the proclamation of Jesus must always bring the amazement of grace”. He goes on to describe how God is always waiting for us. In our lives, He accomplishes unexpected things and always surprises us. “The Gospel comes with a sense of wonder and newness that has a name: Jesus”.
The Holy Father concludes this audience by reflecting how the good news is addressed “to the poor” (Lk. 4: 18). Not only must we remember the poor, but we must also make ourselves poor interiorly. We must recognize that we are in need of forgiveness, in need of help, and in need of strength. Pope Francis said, “You have to overcome any pretense of self-sufficiency in order to understand oneself to be in need of grace . . . What is the shortest way to encounter Jesus? Be needy”. Whenever we reflect on the Good News, let us always seek to surrender ourselves to encounter joy, deliverance, light, healing, and wonder.