If citizens of Trinidad and Tobago were asked to make one Christmas wish for the nation, the responses would, in large measure, be about an end to the scourge of crime in the land, and express a desire for lasting peace.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus who brings to the world the true peace we all long for. In our churches and chapels once again this Christmas Day, the faithful will hear the prophecy of Isaiah that prepares the world for the Redeemer, Jesus Christ: “How beautiful on the mountains, are the feet of one who brings good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation”.

How that peace is expected to come about here at home or in the wider world is not always clear; often leaders seem to trust entirely on human initiative, on power, or even weapons.

In anticipation of the celebration of Christmas, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith has issued a document reminding Christians that they have received the great gift of God’s love in Christ and that they have a duty to share the gift with everyone.

The document with the obscure title, “Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelisation” seeks, in the first place, to respond to some confusion and doubt about “whether Catholics should give testimony about their faith in Christ”.

It seeks to encourage the faithful to respond positively to the Church’s missionary mandate; to draw others into “the network of friendship with Christ”, the one who is the source of peace. 

New Evangelisation

The document, as its title suggests, does not present new Church teaching. It does emphasise the concern of the Church that errors spawned by relativism may retard the progress of its mission given to it by Christ.

What the Doctrinal Note does very well is to bring together in one teaching tool  much that relates to evangelisation in this new millennium, defining the terms conversion, relativism, new evangelisation and outlining the dimensions of ecumenism.

In speaking of inculturation, the document states that “evangelisation does not only entail the possibility of enrichment for those who are evangelised; it is also an enrichment for the one who does the evangelising”. Enrichment is of the very nature of evangelisation.

At a time when there is serious concern in the local Church about the numbers who are absent from Sunday worship, the Doctrinal Note comes not only as a useful reminder to us but may disclose at least one reason for the present circumstances. Evangelisation, the

Note restates is the Church’s “primary task”. Is poor attendance at our Sunday liturgy not a sign that our members are failing to embrace their primary task and so not even motivating one another to live the faith? The document states: “The Christian spirit has always been animated by a passion to lead all humanity to Christ.”

In the festivity that rightly is part of Christmas may we not forget that the gift of Christ which we have received is the “light of the world, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower” and meant to be shared with all our brothers and sisters.

A peaceful and holy Christmas to all our readers.