Opinions, Jesus, and a Really Important Task

As a Catholic layman, I'm obliged to look for the Kingdom of God in everyday life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 898-900) I'm also, like any Christian, expected to tell people about Jesus. (Catechism, 425)

"Proclaiming Jesus:" One Task, Many Options

I've got quite a few options for how I go about "proclaiming Jesus." (Catechism, 425)

I could imitate Coleridge's grey-beard loon. That sort of 'street preaching' worked in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," but it's not my style.

Some folks post Bible verses at regular intervals. If I did that, and followed the liturgical calendar, I would have ready-made material for each day of the year.

For example, today is the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, so I could copy at least part of 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18; and Mark 6:17-29: and be done for the day.

But you can look up daily readings quite a few places online, including the USCCB's calendar. With 'official' sources like that available, I don't see a point in duplicating their efforts.

1 Corinthians 12 discusses a variety of assignments God has for us. There's even a place for relatively unglamorous jobs like administrator. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

I've decided to do my "proclaiming Jesus" by sharing what I learn about my faith, and what it's like being a Catholic in America.

Whose Opinion Counts?

Decades back, my father and I were discussing something that involved God, authority, and whose opinion mattered. My dad noted that "at some levels of authority, argument is pointless." I agreed then, and still do.

I think my opinions about how food tastes, whether or not flip-flops are appropriate foot wear, and other details of everyday life, matter - to me. But I'm not allowed to take my opinions, and present them as God's unchanging law:

"In catechesis 'Christ, the Incarnate Word and Son of God, . . . is taught - everything else is taught with reference to him - and it is Christ alone who teaches - anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ's spokesman, enabling Christ to teach with his lips. . . . Every catechist should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus: "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me." '¹⁶"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 427)

That last quote is from John 7:16.

'It's Not About Me'

"Catechesis" means telling people who Jesus is, and what my Lord said. Folks who do catechesis are called catechists, and I went over that last week. (August 22, 2012) Some of these posts mention Jesus and what the Son of God taught: so sometimes they're catechetical, sort of.

When I write about Jesus, I'm supposed to focus on my Lord: not try to pass off my attitudes and opinions as God's:

"...Christocentricity in catechesis also means the intention to transmit not one's own teaching or that of some other master, but the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Truth that He communicates or, to put it more precisely, the Truth that He is. ... Above all, he [every catechist] will not try to inculcate his personal opinions and options as if they expressed Christ's teaching and the lessons of His life...."
("Catechesi Tradendae," 6)

As I've said before, it won't be more than a few decades, tops, before I get a very serious interview with my Lord. (Catechism, 1021-1022) I think my particular judgment will go much more smoothly, if I remember that presenting the Gospel is about Jesus: not me.

'It's About Me'

This blog's description says that it's about my experience, being a Catholic in America: so quite a few of the posts are about me, more or less. I don't see a problem with that, as long as I remember that 'God's God, I'm not.'

Related posts:

• Jesus
  • "A Divine Mercy Homily: 'Peace be With You;' Jesus is Alive"
    (April 10, 2012)
  • "The Man Who Wouldn't Stay Dead"
    (March 11, 2012)
  • "The Road to Emmaus, and Rome, and Sauk Centre, and - - -"
    (May 8, 2011)
  • " 'Jesus, Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom' "
    (November 21, 2010)
  • "Jesus Christ, Tough as Nails"
    (April 7, 2010)
• Evangelizing
  • "Still Shining in the Darkness: or, Be Not Afraid of Geekness"
    (August 22, 2012)
  • " 'The World is On Fire' - Again: Saint Teresa of Avila and the New Evangelization"
    (July 22, 2012)
  • "Spreading the Gospel, Social Media, a 10-Point List, and All That"
    (July 8, 2012)
  • "Catholics, Credulity, and Credibility"
    (February 12, 2012)
  • "Same Mission, Same Basic Message, New Century"
    (May 31, 2011)
• Diversity
  • "Singing Nuns, Catholic Ghoulgirls, Stereotypes, and Me"
    (January 15, 2012)
  • " 'We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites...' "
    (August 5, 2011)
  • "Speaking in Tongues and Getting a Grip"
    (June 1, 2011)
  • "Unity, Diversity, and Being Catholic"
    (August 26, 2010)
  • "The Catholic Church: Universal. Really"
    (April 19, 2010)

More:

• "Catechesi Tradendae"
  On Catechesis in Our Time
  John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation (October 16, 1979)