A Lenten Experience: Preaching Christ

Preaching Christ does not necessarily entail living Him: human words, independently of their good intentions, can never fill this void. 

Our words are often a barrier to ‘hearing’ (Deuteronomy 6,4) God and our hearts: deafening, they neither enhance us nor grace those who hear them. Hence, Paul’s advice: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen“ (Ephesians 4,29). 

Focused on ourselves, we silence consciences by superfluous words, intended to hide our shortcomings. Roaming in circles, we ignore the cross and its power: “when I am lifted from the earth, I will draw all people to myself” (John 12,32). 

Undermining its power, we are stuck, unable to reconcile our affirmations with our choices. We overlook that although pure and blameless, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5,21). Limiting faith to a social phenomenon, we are incapable to challenge ourselves. 

While scrutinising my preaching, I must, therefore, focus on my conversion, mindful that many followed the Magister, but found no difficulty abandoning him (John 6, 60-70). Repentance highlights the need to recognise ourselves, conscious that “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5,32).

The refusal to let the Spirit intercede for us “through wordless groans” (Romans 8,26) highlights our confusion. Reinforced by an emphasis on a religious exterior to distinguish us from others, our preaching misleads. 

Concerned with appearance, forgetful that to be, it is necessary to surpass a cultivated appearance (Albert Camus, Notebooks, 1935-1951), living Christ challenges us not to hide our weaknesses: to evangelise myself through a ‘radical rethinking’ (Metanoia) of who I am in God’s eyes, rather than focusing on what others should be or need to be in my sight. As is succinctly noted, evangelisation implies “The proclamation of Christ and his Gospel by word and the testimony of life, in fulfilment of Christ’s command” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 905). 

There are two inseparable keys to evangelisation: proclamation and testimony. What underlines their effectiveness is an experienced personal ‘change of heart’ (repentance) as a hallmark of my self-understanding now focused on the Crucifix as a gateway to understanding His Resurrection. 

Martin

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