a message of hope THEME

Transcription

1 1 a message of hope Dear friends, We are starting a new year full of hopes and expectations, particularly with WYD08 drawing near. I ve always thought that when you start a new year, it s a good opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and to give thanks for the many people who have helped you along the way, to where you are now. I can t help but think that as a community we Christians have a lot for which to thank the People of Israel. Jesus was a part of them as was His Blessed Mother and His first disciples. They were Jews, and we all know that their history is full of suffering and redemption. In the time of Jesus, the People of Israel had already suffered exile or oppression at the hands the empires around them. Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans - all had their share in ruling over the Chosen People of God. The people of Israel had a very strong longing for a Messiah, the Chosen One of God, who would liberate them and set them free, who would restore Israel and would bring forth the Kingdom of God. That is why the apostles, after Jesus death and Resurrection, right before His Ascension asked yet again: Has the time come? Are you now going (). I can t help but think that as a community we Christians have a lot for which to thank the People of Israel. Jesus was a part of them as was His Blessed Mother and His first disciples. They were Jews, and we all know that their history is full of suffering and redemption. IN THIS ISSUE 3 Faith Foundations 4 Pilgrim Prayer 5 Inspired Writings 6 Testimony of Faith 7 Saints and Witnesses 8 Place of Pilgrimage 9 To Reflect on 10 Towards WYD08

2 2 a message of hope It seems that they didn t quite understand what sort of Kingdom Jesus was talking about. Like many young people and many older people too they were good at hearing what they wanted to hear and switching off when the message wasn t so welcome. They still needed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them to understand all the teachings of Christ. In a sense, the apostles question is similar to our attitude when we ask the Lord for quick fixes, for the social and political problems that surround us, or when we ask Him to win the lotto. But His Kingdom is not of this world. At the Last Supper, as before, Jesus made it clear that His kingdom was one in which the rulers would rule by being servants. That is the kind of Kingdom He was talking about. As Pope Benedict XVI reminds us in his book Jesus of Nazareth, the dominion of God is drawing near in Jesus Himself. His presence inaugurates the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus presence and action, God entered actively into history in a completely new way. All who follow him, all who open their minds and hearts to Him and let Him live through their lives, are the New People of Israel, the Church, cooperating in bringing the Kingdom of God by being other Christs in the world. The Lord is understanding and patient with us. Although the apostles still expected a political or military solution, the Lord s answer is a sign of His trust in us, stubborn and short-sighted as we might be: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). We are pleased that at this World Youth Day Christians of all denominations, as well as Jews and Muslims, have offered their facilities and other assistance as a token of their common search with us for God s will, for peace on Earth, for love of God and neighbour. We are all children of Abraham and people of the Book. We should be thankful to the People of Israel, our elder brothers and sisters, for through them came our salvation. And thanks to them we have received the mission of evangelising the world. BISHOP anthony fisher op, wyd08 coordinator We are pleased that at this World Youth Day Christians of all denominations, as well as Jews and Muslims, have offered their facilities and other assistance as a token of their common search with us for God s will, for peace on Earth, for love of God and neighbour.

3 faith foundations Israel and the Church God revealed himself in a unique way to the People of Israel - they were his Chosen People. To the Jewish people, God revealed himself as the one, living and true Creator God and yet their Father. God initiated through Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Kings, Israel s holy women and prophets a loving, merciful, passionate and committed bond with Israel God s Covenant. Israel believed that the Covenant was kept alive in: God s gift to the People through Moses of the Torah (The Law); His dwelling place marked by worship and sacrifice The Temple His liberating and merciful actions celebrated in the Jewish Feasts - especially the memory of The Exodus at Passover. Israel often failed to live up to God s guarantee of compassion and fidelity, but the just Israelite continued to hope that salvation would come about through Israel. Christians believe that God did fulfil his promise to Israel by entering history Himself as a son of Israel through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Christ (the anointed One), the Beloved Son of God, was the shepherd foretold by the prophets (Matt 2:6-7), presented as a child in the Temple in Jerusalem and circumcised according to the Law of Moses (Luke 2:22-38). Jesus declared himself one with the Father (John 5:19-24). He said with authority that he had come not to abolish the Law but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17-33). Some Jewish leaders were shocked at his prediction that the temple in Jerusalem would be replaced by a new Temple which would be his body. God s saving justice described by the prophets was made concrete in Jesus words and deeds- forgiving sins, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. A New and Everlasting Covenant was forged most perfectly by Jesus New Sacrifice of his Body and Blood to the Father on The Cross glorified in the New Sabbath of the Resurrection, fulfilling the earlier covenants. A New Israel was called together from the Jews who accepted Jesus as Lord and were the first believers who formed the Church at Pentecost as the new twelve tribes - led by the twelve apostles. This Church would extend God s salvation in Christ to all the nations, and with it the moral teachings and many of the prayers, liturgy and belief s where were shaped by Israel s history. Jewish people are known as our elder brothers and sisters. The late Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean-Marie Aaron Lustiger, who was Jewish born and later baptised Christian said Christianity is the fruit of Judaism. For Christians to be anti-semitic hostile towards the Jews was he said, to hate themselves. 3

4 4 pilgrim prayer Our Father Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

5 5 inspired writings Excerpt from Nostra Aetate, Declaration on the relation of the Church to Non-Christian religions Pope Paul VI, October 28, 1965 Click here to access the excerpt Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God s saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ-Abraham s sons according to faith -are included in the same Patriarch s call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people s exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles, making both one in Himself. The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church s main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ s Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.

6 6 testimony of faith Testimony of Fr Jean-Rodolphe Kars Jewish Convert Recorded 26 December 1986, four weeks after Fr Jean-Rodolphe s ordination Fr Jean-Rodolphe Kars Born in 1947 of Austrian non-practicing Jewish parents, who moved to France in 1948, I began to study the piano at the age of seven. I studied at the Superior National Conservatory of Music in Paris and started my career in 1967, after having been a finalist at the International Piano Competition in Leeds, England. After winning First Prize at the Olivier Messiaen Competition in 1968, my career became international. In 1976, in the midst of various events affecting my personal life, I had a very deep experience of God, a true interior meeting with Christ. My life was transformed by it. I received Baptism in the Catholic Church in Two years later, I sensed a clear call to the priesthood. In 1981, I began my theology studies and put an end to my piano career. In 1986 I was ordained a Priest within the Emmanuel Catholic Community, in Paray-le-Monial. However, I would like to underline something very important which certainly maintains an important Menorah place in my priestly ministry - the rediscovery of my own identity as a Jew, a son of Israel. Before my conversion I was very indifferent to it all. Gradually, two to three years after my Baptism and in the light of my Faith, I had an awakening of my belonging to the people of Israel. To be a priest had great importance for me because, on my father s side, I descended from the Cohens, the priestly branch of the sons of Aaron. Among my paternal ancestors there was a whole line of rabbis and then, a rupture when there was no religious practice for three generations. And now, once again the priesthood continued, this time in the New Covenant. In a time when the Church, post Vatican Council II, awakened to the importance and permanence of the vocation of Israel, I was moved and thankful I was a priest, with Jewish heritage in the line of Cohen. It seemed to me that God gave me, by grace, a place in His Heart, in the Heart of the Church but also in the Heart of Israel as waiting for the arrival of the Lord in glory.

7 saints and witnesses St Paul the Apostle (or Paul of Tarsus) Born: Year of birth unknown, in the present country of Turkey Died: 65 AD in Rome, Italy Feast Days: His Conversion 25th January, With St Peter the Apostle 29th June Patron Saint of: Greece, Malta, lay people, reporters (and many other causes) Representation in Religious Art: Bearded, bald and robed, often carrying a sword and the Bible St Paul the Apostle has left the gigantic mark of his personality, his missionary energy and passionate faith on the New Testament and Christianity itself. His is one of the most extraordinary stories of conversion in Christian history. Paul, or Saul was born into a Jewish family in the significant city of Tarsus (Acts 21:39). He studied his faith and the law in Jerusalem under the great Pharisee teacher Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-41). He became a fierce defender of the Jewish religious law and was actively involved in the opposition to, imprisonment and the execution of the new followers of Jesus Christ. (Acts 7:58-8:1; 9:1-2; Phil 3:4-6) Still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord s disciples (Acts 9:1) while on the road to Damascus Saul was thrown to the ground and blinded by a dazzling light. Saul was shocked and completely transformed by the commanding voice of Jesus himself who was already ascended to the Father (see three accounts of this conversion Acts 9:3-9; 22:1-21; 26:2-23). Saul was healed of his blindness and baptised by a Christian leader called Ananias (Acts 9:10-19) and immediately preached that Jesus was the Lord in Damascus. Saul wandered to Arabia, Jerusalem and back to his home town while preaching and meeting up with the other Christian leaders. About nine years later, Saul was sent by the Apostles with his friend Barnabas to the early community in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Saul, now Paul, began his three missionary journeys to take the word of Jesus to as many hearers as possible. Paul s many Epistles (letters) in the New Testament provide us with his thoughts, friendships, hardships and teachings along the way. The three tours covered many areas around the Mediterranean - Greece, Turkey, Macedonia and Asia Minor. His companions included Sts Silas, Timothy, John, Mark and Barnabas. The first (Acts 13:1-16), second (Acts 15:39-18:22) and third (Acts 18:23-21:17) journeys also enabled him to participate in the Church Council of Jerusalem (c 49 AD) and to revisit the Christian communities. In AD Paul was imprisoned twice (Acts 21:33), starved, shipwrecked, rejected and opposed by rival preachers. In 64 AD the murderous Emperor Nero began to execute and imprison Christians throughout the Roman Empire. The Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul were both executed during this time. Tradition records that St Paul was beheaded as a Roman citizen in Rome the site marked by the basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. Vatican archaeologists recently announced that they believe they have identified the stone tomb of St Paul at that site in Rome. 7

8 8 place of pilgrimage Ancient City of Damascus Where: Capital of Syria, The Middle East Chapel of St Paul (Bab Kisan), Damascus The city of Damascus is over 6,000 years old making it one of the oldest continuously settled places in human history. It is situated on a high plateau inland of the Mediterranean. One of the earliest Christian communities was established in Damascus (mid 30s AD). The city is the spiritual home for Arabic speaking Melkite Catholics, the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Orthodox communities. The Christian and Jewish cultural and religious presence in the now largely Muslim city is intermingled in a complex way throughout the city. An example of this inter-mixing is the ancient Umayyad Mosque. The Grand Mosque is built over the site of a ancient pagan temple, a Roman temple and the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. Inside the mosque, which was richly decorated in three eras, is the Tomb of St John the Baptist s Head - venerated by Christians and Muslims. Unlike most Islamic buildings, Christian art remains on the walls. On one corner of the building is the delicate Jesus Minaret, from which the Muslims believe Jesus (whom they consider a holy prophet but not divine) will declare the end of the world. A number of important saintly theologians and teachers were born at or are associated with Damascus including: St Sophronias - a Patriarch of Jerusalem ( ), St. Andrew of Crete - theologian monk (d. 740) and St John Damascene poet theologian ( A.D.) However the Christian pilgrimage route through Damascus is most significantly marked by the conversion of the great Apostle to the non-jewish world, St Paul of Tarsus. The Acts of Apostles (9:10-19) notes that the Christian disciple Ananias was called by God to baptise and heal Saul/Paul of his blindness and that Paul was lead to a street called Straight to find Ananias. Today the Roman built Via Recta (straight street) still exists. Nearby is the Chapel of Ananias which marks the site of his house. A little further down the road is a mosque called Jakmak which tradition says is constructed over the house of Judas (not Judas Iscariot) where St Paul was given hospitality. Damascus Gate At Bab Kisan is a small fort-like building, St Paul s Chapel and orphanage. Constructed with stones from the ancient gate it marks the place from which St Paul later escaped by rope and basket from the Jews who were infuriated by his preaching that Jesus was the Christ (2 Cor 11:32-33).

9 9 to reflect On 20 July, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a message to the young people of the World on WYD08. The Pope expressed, In this message I gladly offer you an outline for meditation that you can explore during this year of preparation. Take some time to reflect on these words, to meditate and respond to the invitation of the Pope to explore the theme of WYD08. Excerpt from the Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the young people of the world on the occasion of the XXIII World Youth Day, 2008, dated 20 July 2007 My dear young friends! 4. The Holy Spirit, soul of the Church and principle of communion If we are to understand the mission of the Church, we must go back to the Upper Room where the disciples remained together (cf. Lk 24:49), praying with Mary, the Mother, awaiting the Spirit that had been promised. This icon of the nascent Church should be a constant source of inspiration for every Christian community. Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and efficient, but is the result of the community s constant prayer (cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75). Moreover, for the mission to be effective, communities must be united, that is, they must be of one heart and soul (cf. Acts 4:32), and they must be ready to witness to the love and joy that the Holy Spirit instils in the hearts of the faithful (cf. Acts 2:42). The Servant of God John Paul II wrote that, even prior to action, the Church s mission is to witness and to live in a way that shines out to others (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 26). Tertullian tells us that this is what happened in the early days of Christianity when pagans were converted on seeing the love that reigned among Christians: See how they love one another (cf. Apology, 39 7). To conclude this brief survey of the Word of God in the Bible, I invite you to observe how the Holy Spirit is the highest gift of God to humankind, and therefore the supreme testimony of his love for us, a love that is specifically expressed as the yes to life that God wills for each of his creatures. This yes to life finds its fullness in Jesus of Nazareth and in his victory over evil by means of the redemption. In this regard, let us never forget that the Gospel of Jesus, precisely because of the Spirit, cannot be reduced to a mere statement of fact, for it is intended to be good news for the poor, release for captives, sight for the blind.... With what great vitality this was seen on the day of Pentecost, as it became the grace and the task of the Church towards the world, her primary mission! on We are the fruits of this mission of the Church through the working of the Holy Spirit. We carry within us the seal of the Father s love in Jesus Christ which is the Holy Spirit. Let us never forget this, because the Spirit of the Lord always remembers every individual, and wishes, particularly through you young people, to stir up the wind and fire of a new Pentecost in the world.

10 towards WYD G DAY! Since started in early 2006, we have focused upon the journey to has now arrived! We all now have a tremendous focus on implementing our preparations for WYD08 over the next six months. We need your assistance to help us plan for pilgrim groups, so we ask that: you enter your individual details into the registration system. This is vital for you to have your visa application processed and for us to confirm the numbers travelling in your pilgrim group. In the December edition we mentioned that the allocation of accommodation and of space at major events (Opening Mass, Papal Arrival, Stations of the Cross, Overnight Vigil and Final Mass) will start in early We will start allocating accommodation and spaces to groups who have identified all or most of their individual members. So get in early, to secure your space! Details can be changed later if necessary. you advise us of your travel plans. Group leaders can record their arrival and departure details in Sydney and Australia. This will help us to help you - whether you are arriving by air or by road. Australian Government agencies (Customs, Quarantine and Immigration) are also seeking your assistance so they can make your entry into Australia and Sydney as simple as possible. if you are attending Days in the Dioceses make sure your arrangements with the host diocese are complete. The next 6 months are going to fly by and your continued help, support and prayers will help us deliver an excellent World Youth Day. Online Social Network You may already be part of an online social network, such as MySpace, Facebook or one of many other online networks where you meet and talk with your friends online. WYD08, in conjunction with our European partners XT3 (Christ in the Third Millennium) will soon be launching a social networking site which will allow young Catholics from around the world to meet and discuss Church and social issues. You will also be able to post your prayer intentions and support others who have posted their prayer intentions. Other features such as online forums with leading theologians and people active in church-based activities are also planned. This is a most exciting initiative and part of the legacy program to reap the benefits of WYD08. This will be the place you can meet your Catholic friends before and during WYD08 and to continue your friendships well into the future. The site is in final technical testing and more information will be available soon. Keep visiting our website for more updates. See you in Sydney in 6 months!! 10