CHURCH IN FOCUS:
Verbum Domini - 5
29 January 2012

In our programme we bring you the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, meaning, the Word of the Lord, of Pope Benedict XVI, which is a reflection on the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in 2008, devoted to “The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church.” This document which is being considered as the most important Church document on Holy Scripture since the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, published in 1965. Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, said that the purpose of the document is to communicate the results of the Synod; rediscover the Word of God – a source of constant ecclesial renewal; to promote the Bible among pastors; to help the faithful become witnesses of the Word of God; to support the new evangelization and ecumenical dialogue; and to foster ever greater love for the Word of God. It is addressed to the Bishops, Clergy, Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful and considers "the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church".
The third part of the Document deals with the theme of mission and evangelization. The word of God given to us makes us not only hearers, but also heralds so that we share in Christ’s mission and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The word that we receive is meant for all; it cannot be kept to ourselves. Since it is true, it belongs to everyone. Every area of society needs the light of Christ. In this part of the document has as its title “Verbum Mundo”, meaning the Word to the World. It draws attention to “the duty of Christians to announce the Word of God in the world in which they live and work”. It deals with the theme of mission and evangelization. The word of God given to us makes us not only hearers, but also heralds so that we share in Christ’s mission and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The word that we receive is meant for all; it cannot be kept to ourselves.
Since it is true, it belongs to everyone. Every area of society needs the light of Christ. “It is not a matter of preaching a word of consolation, but rather a word which disrupts, which calls to conversion and which opens the way to an encounter with the one through whom a new humanity flowers”. This task of proclaiming the word of God belongs to all the baptized. Consciousness of this mission “must be revived in every family, parish, community, association and ecclesial movement”. Because many people, particularly in the Western world, are “baptized, but insufficiently evangelized,” there is need for a “new evangelization”. This mission must not neglect the poor and the need to strive for justice. In this regard, the faithful should receive formation in the Church’s social teaching. Many young people have a “sincere desire to know Jesus.” The Gospel should be proclaimed to them clearly, and they should be taught the Sacred Scriptures so that they can share the Gospel with their peers.
The first chapter entitled “The Church’s Mission to Proclaim the Word of God to the World”, explains how the Church “is oriented towards the announcement ‘ad gentes’, to people who do not yet know the Word, but also to those who have already been baptised but need new evangelisation in order to rediscover the Word of God”. In many historically Christian countries there is a large influx of migrants who do not know Christ. This offers a unique opportunity, and “migrants are entitled to hear the kerygma, which is to be proposed, not imposed. If they are Christians, they require forms of pastoral care which can enable them to grow in the faith and to become in turn messengers of the Gospel.” In Sacred Scripture, the poor have a special place. It is to be emphasized, however, that the poor are also themselves agents of evangelization. Recognizing that the entire cosmos was created through the Word (cf. John 1.2), we acknowledge a responsibility toward creation, which is not to be viewed simply as raw material to be exploited. Thus, “accepting the word of God attested to by Scripture and by the Church’s living Tradition . . . promotes an authentic ecology which has its deepest roots in the obedience of faith”.
“The Word of God and Commitment to the World” is the title of chapter two, which recalls how “Christians are called to serve the Word of God in their most needy brothers and sisters and, hence, to commit themselves in society for reconciliation, justice and peace among peoples”. The document stresses the importance of religious education and therefore, the religion teachers should be given careful training. As well, competent offices and groups should promote solid scriptural formation in artists, who are capable of greatly contributing to the beauty of our Churches and our liturgy. Pope Benedict XVI insists that this task of proclaiming the word of God belongs to all the baptized. Consciousness of this mission “must be revived in every family, parish, community, association and ecclesial movement”.
Chapter three of part three is dedicated to “The Word of God and Culture”. It expresses the hope “that the Bible may become better known in schools and universities and that better use may be made of the social communications media, exploiting all the modern possibilities of technology, especially the internet, are to be used in the new evangelization, but they can never replace personal contact in the real world. The theme of the inculturation of Sacred Scripture is also linked to the translation and diffusion of the Bible, which must be increased”. This, however, is not to be confused with “superficial adaptation” or a “syncretism which would dilute the uniqueness of the Gospel in an attempt to make it more easily accepted”. Rather, true inculturation occurs “when a culture, transformed and regenerated by the Gospel, brings forth from its own living tradition original expressions of Christian life, celebration, and thought”.
“The Word of God and Inter-religious Dialogue” is the title of chapter four. An essential part of the Church’s proclamation consists in encounter, dialogue, and cooperation with followers of other religious traditions. “This is to take place without forms of syncretism and relativism”, but should follow the lines established in the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration Nostra Aetate and the subsequent Magisterium. It insists that mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims should be fostered by the church. Having established the value and topicality of inter-religious dialogue, ‘Verbum Domini’ supplies some important guidelines concerning dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and with members of other non-Christian religions, within the framework of a religious liberty which involves not only the freedom to profess one’s faith in private and in public, but also freedom of conscience; in other words, of choosing one’s religion.
In the conclusion the Holy Father reiterates his exhortation to all Christians “to become increasingly familiar with Sacred Scripture”. Although this Apostolic Exhortation deals with a number of themes, Pope Benedict’s concludes his impassioned plea at the end of the document: I remind all Christians that our personal and communal relationship with God depends on our growing familiarity with the word of God. Finally, I turn to every man and woman, including those who have fallen away from the Church, who have left the faith or who have never heard the proclamation of salvation. To everyone the Lord says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me”.