Of Malls and Evangelization

There's a Mega Mall in Sharjah, UAE! This is of course, not a branch of Shoe Mart (SM) from the Philippines -- which too has its own Mega Mall.  Every time Filipinos in the vicinity point at the establishment, it reminds them of home.

Speaking of malls, Dubai had recently announced to build the "Mall of the World"; aimed to be the biggest mall---you guessed it---in the world! I surmise that if any country wants to build the next big thing it will then be the 'Mall of the Universe'.

 Malls accommodate interested businesses who are willing to rent space to sell merchandise or render services to the droves of people that it attracts.  More people come if the malls have something interesting to offer -- like a free concert or a big sale, creating "buzz".

Dubai's Mall of the World. Photo from businessinsider.com

Connecting this to the work of evangelization: are we still aiming for a "mega" evangelization and relentlessly pursuing a "world" evangelization? Are we innovating---using new expressions, new methods, and new ardor---to "attract" people to our evangelization programs or activities? Are they "interesting" enough? Are we witnessing enough? Does our evangelization approach create "buzz"?

We learn to evangelize by the example of Jesus' first disciples who could not stop talking about the Resurrection: "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:20) What is this fact---that they have seen and heard--- that emboldened the first Christian community? Benedict XVI gives us a powerful perspective in his book, The God of Jesus Christ: "The Resurrection teaches us something that now possesses eternal validity: he (Jesus Christ) is man. He remains man forever ... This is the hope of man, the Christian joy, the Good News: even to this day, he is man." Further, Benedict XVI stresses: "God loves us in such a way that his Word became flesh and remains flesh. This joy ought to be the strongest impulse and the strongest force in us, leading us to communicate it to others...".  Through the Resurrection---the Good News---we can now enter Heaven and partake in the life of love exchange of the Holy Trinity!

We can formulate many "evangelization strategies", but if we miss the point of the Resurrection -- and how it is truly Good News, then the initial hype will die down.  The exciting message of the Resurrection---that He is risen---should be felt in our speech and in our deeds.  The effective "evangelization package" so to speak, then naturally flows and realized.

We continue to depend and surrender to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit to lead us to share about the resurrection in a "new evangelizing way" that attracts droves of people to the Lord.  Then, can we genuinely have "mega" and "world" evangelization happening; through the confidence of our obedience to Christ's great commission: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit ...  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19-20)

The Sword That Brings Life

"The sword that brings life." This was one of the philosophies of the Kamiya Dojo as depicted in the movie Rouroni Kenshin.  It's actually a movie based on a famous anime series in the late 90's, Samurai X. Apparently the protagonist, Kenshin, have turned away from his life as an assassin and embraced a non-violent way of life and pledged never to take life again.  This became his conviction, despite others telling him that his notion was a joke.

The Word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit, brings us life.  Everytime we practice with the Word and apply it, we become more attuned to it.  I have heard from somewhere that "The Samurai practices with his katana, until sword and soldier become one."  Using the analogy of a sword as a way of using God's Word helps us in understanding it's great value and power.  Interestingly, the words "word and sword" only have the letter "s" as a difference. We can say that S-stands for Spirit, and therefore the Sword is the Spirit's Word.  That is why when we face the day without God's Word, we are open and defenseless to the attacks from the evil one.

Let the Sword of the Spirit defend us and give us life eternal, for Christ is the Word made flesh.  Let us stand firm with conviction, even if people tell us that the Christian way of life is a joke.  In Lineamenta 7, it says "This is the form of Christian martyria in today's world, engaging in dialogue even with the recent forms of a militant atheism or an extreme secularism, whose purpose is to eliminate the subject of God from human life."  As we battle evil in today's world, we are called to be new martyrs for the new evangelization, making a Christian stand amidst atheism and secularism.  Let us live and die for Christ, using the Sword of the Spirit that brings us life eternal.

Responding to the Challenges of Media Evangelization

I just came from the GMA7 Christian Life Program to give the Orientation Talk. I was glad to see SFC members from a rival network ABS-CBN who committed to help and support. Indeed, if it's for the Lord, there is unity. There is a great need to evangelize the influential media networks and I'm inspired how SFC's in GMA7 stepped up to conduct their first ever CLP.

Media is one of the six sectors that the New Evangelization wants to reach. Media can be considered today's greatest educator. Much of how we think and behave is influenced by the dictates of media. Media popularizes. The challenge is to be able to permeate to media what is right. We must remember that it does not mean when it is popular, it is right. Easily, society develops a "poll mentality", as if what is just and right is defined by what the majority thinks is right. Beware of the following:

1. Popular people who think the world should conform to their set of beliefs, even if it's sinful.

Today's "twitter culture" reflects the kind of influences people are willing to be exposed to. Just look at the number of followers a celebrity has. Popularity should be used to promote righteousness and Christian values. Those who are in the position to influence should take into deep thought and prayer of the kind of society that ought to be built..

 2. Negative Norms in the storylines of sitcoms and movies.

Many western comedies or soaps promote pre-marital sex as normal or even cultural and regard sex as casual as playing tennis. Many movies project violence that border to being sadistic, as if banking on the entertainment value derived from seeing someone being killed. This is very reminiscent to the gladiator days where coliseums were dedicated for "deathtertainment."

3. Irresponsible use of social media.

Some people think that having a youtube, facebook or a twitter account gives them the license to unfiltered expression of hatred, disgust, and hurtful opinion. In my observation, the virtual society is slowly being desensitized to reveal more regardless if it is upbuilding or not, even to the point of endangering themselves and others.In our own way, let us seek to renew the field of media.

In today's advanced technology we are all empowered to have a voice. Use that voice like how John the Baptist would, to prepare the way of the Lord."A voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord." Mark 1:3

Questions to ponder before broadcasting:
1. Is my message the truth that honors the Lord?
2. When I post or repost, will it build relationships, help people, and proclaim God's goodness?
3. Am I contributing to God's intent for the gift of media?

 Let us continue to "Proclaim the Greatness of the Lord." Luke 1:46