It could be translated as: "The Message of Joy" and was published by Pope John Francis as the first "Apostolic Exhortation" of his reign.
In this wide ranging document's first number of paragraphs the Pope deals with the need to Joyfully anticipate salvation by accepting Christ's offer thereof:
"All creation shares in the joy of Salvation."
"Sing for Joy O Heavens, and exult, O Earth."
He then speaks at length of the essential duty of Christians to "Evangelize", to "Go Forth" and preach the Gospel. In Fact, the urging to "Go Forth" is repeated so often in this text, that one might assume it to be the core message. Such an assumption would be wrong, however.
I shall not analyse and comment on this Evangelium in detail. Let more learned people do this. I will, however, quote certain passages which caught my interest and attention and I will comment on those in approximate order of their appearance.
Through the Prophet Zephania we hear God urge the people:
"My Child, treat yourself well, according to your means...
do not deprive yourself of the day's enjoyment."
What exactly does this mean ? Treat yourself well, according to your means? Does this indicate that God not only knew (The All Knowing) but in fact accepted the fact that there were the Rich and the Poor?
This would be most interesting, particularly in light of the later condemnation of Capitalism.
In para. 7 Francis accuses
"our technological society of having succeeded in multiplying "Occasions of Pleasure" but having failed "to engender Joy".
If "Joy" means the acceptance of Christ's offer of salvation then it is unreasonable to expect "technology" to create "Joy".
To those who practice evangelism, the spreading of God's message, the heart of their message will always be the same:
"God, who revealed his immense love in the crucified and risen Christ."
Think about it for a moment: God's 'immense' love is shown to mankind by having his Son tortured, crucified and killed, so that the sins of mankind may be forgiven!
Forgiven by whom? Forgiven by God, of course. In other words, God decided (that may be the wrong word, since it presupposes that He weighed several possibilities) anyway, He decided that in order for mankind to be forgiven of its sinful ways, his Son would have to die a cruel and gruesome death.
Could He not just have forgiven the sins of mankind without this unthinkably cruel sacrifice?
In paragraphs 9 to 13 this Apostolic Exhortation, urges all believers by threat and by offering rewards to Go Forth and preach the word of God.
In Paragraph 16 Franciscus calls for a decentralization of the Papal Office and Power.
" .....in this sense I am conscious of the need (16)
to promote a sound decentralization."
I find it difficult to believe that the Synod of Bishops will relinquish any of its power and influence, and the Pope, like it or not, will have to remain in charge, since he, after all, is the only one who is infallible in matters of Faith and Doctrine.
"Inequality is increasingly evident"
One of the Great Inequalities surely must be between the Pomp of the Papacy in specific and the Roman Catholic Church in general, when juxtaposed to the simple lives of the impoverished parishioners who, through mandatory church taxes and only semi-voluntary weekly contributions, contribute to Papal wealth.
A further inequality certainly is the tax-excempt status for all of the vast holdings of the Catholic Church. There is no other individual or organisation which enjoys such an eternal tax holiday.
"Violence is on the rise"
Compared to the violence in which the Roman Catholic church was involved, actively or passively, over the centuries, we now live in a peaceful time.
In paragraph 51 this Apostolic Exhortation states that
"it is not the task of the Pope to offer a detailed and complete
analysis of contemporary reality, but I do exhort all the communities to an ever watchful scrutiny of the signs of the times. This is, in fact, a grave responsibility, since certain present realities, unless effectively dealt with, are capable of setting off processes of dehumanization which would then be hard to reverse.
This "Apostolic Exhortation" the goes on urging us to know God's Plan and to distinguish Good from Evil and to choose "movements of the spirit of Good and reject those of the Spirit of Evil."
At no time does the Pontif warn us that the search for Good and Evil is fraught with danger.
Just consider the search for Evil which caused the Inquisition, the burning of innocent women, accused by 'Evil-Seekers' of witchcraft and so many other crimes against humanity in the name of seeking the Good and eradicating the Evil.
Pope Francis truly relinquishes his leadership swhen he claims that it is not his job to offer an "analysis of contemporary reality"but rather urges "all communities to an ever watchful scutiny".
It is precisely such vague statements which give rise to any kind of interpretation which can then be used to serve the ends of personal search for power.
"A number of diseases are spreading" (52)
Medical science has never been as advanced as it is now, particularly in the Western World, where the fruits of Free Enterprise and Democracy have given the impetus and the means to find cures for diseases, which in the past were unforgiving killers.
How easy it would be for the Almighty to stop these maladies and bring about a disease free, healthy world. A blink of an eye or a wave of his hand should do it. (if I may be permitted to anthropomorphise the Almighty for a moment)
In blaming technology or society at large we are pointing the accusing finger at the wrong guy.
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There is much more to come... you just have to wait for the next Blog written by
Bertstravels.
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