Catechesis 4 - YOUNG PROPHETS FOR TODAY

 A study and reflection guide on the conference “Young prophets for today” of Marina Costa (August 10, 2000), Opening the door of the third millennium, page 57.   

OBJECTIVES 

• Discover the prophetic mission of the youth of today

• Deepen in our “being” and acting as a Prophet  

• Identify ourselves with the mission of the Prophet  

A Prophet is one who speaks in God’s name, announces SALVATION and his/her life transmits a message of Life of Hope.  There is a Prophet in each one of us.  We have been called to form part of the Church in order to participate with her in the task of propagating the Kingdom, of proclaiming the Good News and denouncing all types of injustices.  After reading this conference we will understand that our Christian and Vincentian identity invites us to be a decisive and prophetical presence in this world.  As members of the Vincentian Family we also need to deepen in our own identity.

Without thinking too much, what are the first three characteristics that come to your mind when asked to describe a prophet? 

Is the figure of the prophet relevant today?  Why? 

THE PROPHET:

• is chosen by God and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

• freely accepts his/her mission to Announce and Denounce.  

• preaches salvation to the people with his life, actions and words.  

• is sent to evangelize the poor, help the weak...

• . ………………………....

The Prophet today...

I will be a prophet when...

MOVIE REVIEW

This story counts with two main characters:  Jeremiah and Yahweh.  But without a doubt, the “Oscar” for Best Actor goes to Jeremiah.  He plays his part in the movie in such a way that he provokes among the viewers feelings of admiration, wonder, joy… a desire to follow his example.  As the movie develops we see how Yahweh invites Jeremiah to speak on his behalf to the Israelites, how he makes him understand his love for him and for all men.  In the critics’ opinion, the role of Jeremiah is one of the best defined in the repertoire of films of this author.   The scriptwriter tries to highlight the mission of Jeremiah as that of calling men to rediscover their vocation, that of being children of God. 

GROUP WORK: 

THE CHARACTERS

Describe the qualities that you think should identify a Prophet today. 

THE STORY

Do you know the story of any Prophet? 

Share with the other members of the group the characteristics of a prophet.  Which of those characteristics stand out? 

THE SETTING

 Make a big drawing of a church.

Describe in one word how the Church today fulfils its prophetic mission.                

   PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING WITHOUT THINKING TOO MUCH:   

.... Describe places, environments and situations that you think need EVANGELIZATION TODAY.  

... Together with the other group members, make a COLLAGE - with pictures, drawings, and letterings - that shows which areas should take priority in our prophetic witnessing. 

THE YOUNG VINCENTIANS ARE CALLED TO:

• Be present as a decisive force, capable of interpreting the signs of the times and evaluating critically and objectively their social realities.   

• Give all human and civil actions a religious significance, because of the new motivations and objectives that can be derived from the Gospel.

• To achieve an integration between their Christian vocation and their social involvement. 

Read and share on the encyclical “Evangelii Nuntiandi” (On Evangelization in the Modern World) of Paul VI:

Evangelization: agents of evangelization…

A glance at our present world…

                        The person and attitudes of an evangelizer… 

MAKE A PAMPHLET WITH THE MAIN IDEAS AND ADD TO IT THE QUALITIES OF A VINCENTIAN AGENT. (You could even share your work with other young people.)

MOVIE REVIEW

The making of this movie entailed a lot of difficulties due to the fact that many multinational companies blocked its screening because it would jeopardize their businesses.   One company president even said:  “If people will start to see clearly, to be generous, committed and in solidarity with the weak... how will we feed ourselves?  How can our business ventures succeed?”   Still, the movie was a big box office hit.  Today there are many who feel called to be generous, to be evangelizers and Prophets of the Good News.  The extras were ordinary street people, which give even more merit and realism to its production.  The theme has been such a novelty that it has caused a great stir among other directors who want to go into that subject matter, to investigate on the “why “and “how” of this proposal and way of life. 

GROUP WORK:

THE CHARACTERS

Our mission today is to be:

      -    A decisive and prophetic presence

-    Productive agents of the Good News

-    A transforming force in our own organizations, for the poor and in society. 

With this in mind and as a member of JMV who wishes to commit in and for the society of the 21st century: 

Read and share with a partner chapter 5 of the encyclical “REDEMPTORIS MISSIO” (Mission of the Redeemer) of John Paul II:  The paths of mission

• Write in a sheet of paper the words that have struck your attention.   

• Enumerate the MEANS necessary for EVANGELIZATION today. 

•  How can we “form consciences” today?   

To a Vincentian, what should be the SOURCE AND CRITERION OF MISSION? 

We can ask ourselves the same questions that Marina Costa gave at the end of the  conference:                                             

• How does the Vincentian Family live out its being a prophet in today’s world? 

• How is the Vincentian Marian Youth living it out today?  

• How can the youth be prophets and transforming agents of society today? 

ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND, AFTER, COMPOSE A SONG TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL YOUR CONCLUSIONS.  (It would be good to share with the other groups your songs at some moment of the encounter.)

THE STORY

The story reveals to us that it is only through a specific spirituality founded in God that we can be a Prophet, an evangelizer or a missionary wherever in the world we find ourselves in. 

Read chapter 8: Missionary Spirituality of the encyclical “Redemptoris Missio”:

• Do you feel that you are full of Christ so much so that you can be a “voice” that proclaims the Good News of Salvation?   

• What is prayer to a Vincentian Prophet?   

• What does the Holy Spirit contribute to your life, TO YOUR STORY?   

In a moment of silence and PRAYER, share about your dreams, your limitations... WHY YOU WANT TO BE PROPHETS. 

THE SETTING

Who better than the youth to work towards this future vision?  Your life, country, family, friends, university, office... are appropriate settings where one is called to respond as the Prophet: with courage, sincerity and truth... to PROCLAIM and denounce.  Be free and live in FREEDOM... the Prophet feels free in his choices and affirmations... his actions reflect an experience with God. 

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