Table of Contents
I A Joy Ever New, a Joy Which Is Shared 1
II The Delightful and Comforting Joy of Evangelizing 5
Eternal Newness 6
III The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Faith 8
The Scope and Limits of This Exhortation 9
Chapter 1 The Church's Missionary Transformation 11
I A Church Which Goes Forth 11
Taking the First Step, Being Involved and Supportive, Bearing Fruit and Rejoicing 13
II Pastoral Activity and Conversion 14
An Ecclesial Renewal Which Cannot Be Deferred 15
III From the Heart of the Gospel 18
IV A Mission Embodied Within Human Limits 21
V A Mother with an Open Heart 24
Chapter 2 Amid The Crisis of Communal Commitment 26
I Some Challenges of Today's World 27
No to an Economy of Exclusion 27
No to the New Idolatry of Money 29
No to a Financial System Which Rules Rather Than Serves 30
No to the Inequality Which Spawns Violence 30
Some Cultural Challenges 32
Challenges to Inculturating the Faith 35
Challenges from Urban Cultures 37
II Temptations Faced by Pastoral Workers 39
Yes to the Challenge of a Missionary Spirituality 40
No to Selfishness and Spiritual Sloth 42
No to a Sterile Pessimism 43
Yes to the New Relationships Brought by Christ 45
No to Spiritual Worldliness 48
No to Warring Among Ourselves 50
Other Ecclesial Challenges 52
Chapter 2 The Proclamation of the Gospel 56
I The Entire People of God Proclaims the Gospel 56
A People for Everyone 57
A People of Many Faces 58
We Are All Missionary Disciples 60
The Evangelizing Power of Popular Piety 62
Person to Person 64
Charisms at the Service of a Communion Which Evangelizes 66
Culture, Thought and Education 67
II The Homily 68
The Liturgical Context 68
A Mother's Conversation 69
Words Which Set Hearts on Fire 71
III Preparing to Preach 72
Reverence for Truth 73
Personalizing the Word 75
Spiritual Reading 77
An Ear to the People 78
Homiletic Resources 79
IV Evangelization and the Deeper Understanding of the Kerygma 81
Kerygmatic And Mystagogical Catechesis 82
Personal Accompaniment in Processes of Growth 85
Centered on the Word of God 87
Chapter 4 The Social Dimension of Evangelization 89
I Communal and Societal Repercussions of the Kerygma 89
Confession of Faith and Commitment to Society 89
The Kingdom and Its Challenge 91
The Church's Teaching on Social Questions 92
II The Inclusion of the Poor in Society 94
In Union with God, We Hear a Plea 94
Fidelity to the Gospel, Lest We Run in Vain 97
The Special Place of the Poor in God's People 99
The Economy and the Distribution of Income 102
Concern for the Vulnerable 105
III The Common Good and Peace in Society 108
Time Is Greater than Space 109
Unity Prevails over Conflict 110
Realities Are More Important than Ideas 112
The Whole Is Greater than the Part 113
IV Social Dialogue as a Contribution to Peace 115
Dialogue Between Faith, Reason and Science 116
Ecumenical Dialogue 117
Relations with Judaism 119
Interreligious Dialogue 120
Social Dialogue in a Context of Religious Freedom 122
Chapter 5 Spirit-Filled Evangelizers 125
I Reasons for a Renewed Missionary Impulse 126
Personal Encounter with the Saving Love of Jesus 127
The Spiritual Savor of Being a People 130
The Mysterious Working of the Risen Christ and His Spirit 133
The Missionary Power of Intercessory Prayer 136
II Mary, Mother of Evangelization 137
Jesus' Gift to His People 137
Star of the New Evangelization 139
Notes 143