Editorial

Abstract

Editorial Raymond Studzinski, O.S.B. Many of us are familiar with occasional "breakthrough moments" when we can see ourselves overcoming stagnation and resistance and moving forward in a truly fruitful direction. Such moments may find us thinking and imagining about ourselves and life in a way that liberates us from what has boxed us in and opens us to a depth that has always been there but has eluded us so far. Such breakthroughs happen not only to people and to societies but to disciplines such as theology, philosophy, and psychology. In philosophy, the Scottish philosopher John Macmurray (1891-1976) challenged the individualistic and secular mindset of modern times by declaring in the Gifford Lectures in 1952 and 1953 that human persons are relational beings and are made for communion with one another and ultimately with God. He countered egocentricity by emphasizing community. Parallel to what Macmurray was doing in philosophy, psychoanalysts began to move beyond Freud's emphasis on drive satisfaction as motivating behavior to see persons as relationship-seeking. This new way of thinking created an intellectual renaissance in psychoanalysis with new thinking emerging on issues such as the role of religion and spirituality in maintaining psychic well-being. In the area of evangelization and catechetics, Pope Francis has likewise put relationships front and center with his emphasis on encounter, dialogue, and accompaniment. The introduction to the Directory for Catechesis echoes points made by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium where he describes the role of accompaniment in promoting spiritual growth (EG 169-173). According to the Directory for Catechesis, the process of accompaniment, a relationship marked by respect, compassion, and trust, provides the formative experience leading to "intimate communion with Christ" (DC 3). In this issue of the IJEC, our authors likewise attend to the centrality of relationships in the ministry of evangelization and catechesis. Brian Pedraza addresses the critical importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as at the center of faith. The thrust of evangelization is to lead others to the encounter with the risen Lord and to establish an abiding and intimate friendship with him which then energizes [End Page 105] the believer to spread the message of salvation. Sadly, as Pedraza notes, surveys reveal only a relatively small percentage of believers acknowledge that God is personal. Others avoid focusing on the personal relationship with the Lord because it does not have enough of a Catholic ring to it or gives insufficient attention to the sacraments. Pedraza skillfully responds to such objections and shows how a personal relationship with Christ and the sacraments work together in drawing persons to a greater gift of self to Christ and their neighbor. In an essay on the special emphasis given to the kerygma in the Directory for Catechesis and other recent ecclesial documents, Eric J. Westby draws attention to the whole-hearted response that the proclamation of the saving work of Jesus Christ can elicit in the hearer. That response finds individuals entering a relationship with the living God which brings a sense of purpose, happiness, and peace. Westby addresses the impact that this renewed attention to the kerygma will have on how a parish staff goes about its ministry. He notes that it is important that staff members are able not only to articulate the kerygma but also that they are willing to share how Christ has touched them personally. They must be ready to work with people in a one-on-one relationship and offer hospitality where all are able to feel welcomed. Proclaiming the kerygma invites a parish community to foster relationships in which all members work together at becoming a missionary church. Relationships are not only with people but with all that surrounds us—the natural environment, the world of culture, and the world of ideas. Samantha Mattheiss and Joseph R. Laracy look at the beauty found in this larger world and explore and try to understand how that quality found in all sorts of objects and experiences can become a path to Christ for us. Beauty can lure us into a relationship with the One, the source of all beauty. Mattheiss and Laracy probe the impact of beauty...