We often describe Christmas as “Jesus’ birthday” and rightly so. It is, also, the day on which evangelization was born, modeled for us by the angels, who proclaimed to the shepherds the arrival of a newborn king. Their proclamation moved the shepherds to go in search of this king and, after they encountered him, to return to their lives filled with joy and gratitude.
Evangelization is, of course, intimately related to catechesis. The Directory for Catechesis tells us:
Evangelizing is not, in the first place, the delivery of a doctrine; but rather, making present and announcing Jesus Christ. The Church’s mission of evangelization best expresses the economy of Revelation; in fact the Son of God is made flesh, enters into history, and becomes human among humanity. Evangelization makes this enduring presence of Christ concrete, in such a way that those who draw near to the Church may encounter in his person the way to “save their lives” (cf. Mt 16:25) and open themselves to a new horizon. (29)
As we celebrate this Christmas, may the Holy Spirit fill you with abundant blessings and graces to announce Jesus Christ to those you teach and to make his enduring presence concrete so that those who encounter him will indeed open themselves up to a new horizon!
Merry Christmas!
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