“We also have to give greater thought to ways of incarnating the kerygma in the language of today”
Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, 211
One of the regular refrains of Pope Francis is that the Church needs to emphasize the proclamation of the kerygma in today’s language. While the word “kerygma” has become a popular buzzword, many in the pews do not understand what it means. Even though it is an ancient Greek word found in the New Testament, most Catholics are unfamiliar with the term; therefore, they are unsure of what Pope Francis is calling us to do.
The word “kerygma” comes from the Greek word for “herald” or a messenger who delivers good news of a great victory. For the Church, the great victory being proclaimed was Christ’s death and resurrection and soon the word came to be understood as the central teachings of the Christian faith. Throughout the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of St. Paul, the Church finds examples of early proclamations of the kerygma, in which the Apostles invited their audiences to become aware of the life-giving love of God poured out in Christ Jesus. Pope Francis summarizes the kerygma message as the three great truths that are essential to life: “God loves you; Christ is your Savior; he is alive” (Christus Vivit, 130).
Over time, the word kerygma began to be used not only for this core message of salvation, but also the way in which it is proclaimed, in which the audience is invited to a personal relationship with Jesus. When proclaiming this message of salvation, those listening are called to experience God for themselves and not be spectators watching on the sideline. A strong proclamation of the kerygma uncovers the Gospel and makes it present. When the kerygma is proclaimed well, God speaks for Himself through the testimony of the one proclaiming Him (cf. Directory for Catechesis, 58).
The pope’s attention to the proclamation of the kerygma shapes the way the Christian message is to be shared today. The goal of the kerygma is not to create theologians, but missionary disciples who have experienced Jesus’ mercy and love for themselves and want to share this Good News with others. The kerygma method integrates the teachings of the Church as a unified whole to connect all our beliefs and practices with our relationship with Jesus. The Bible, Church Tradition, the liturgy and sacraments, most especially the Eucharist, and the Christian community become the vehicles of sharing the person of Christ with others in a clear way.
Proclaiming the Gospel focused on the kerygma introduces others to Jesus Himself. When the kerygma method is employed, the teachings of the Church do not remain simply a moral code, a set of doctrines, or a list of obligatory practices, but rather a way of life rooted in a relationship with God specific for each person. As the Directory for Catechesis states in its introduction, “the proclamation of the Gospel… requires, in fact, overcoming any opposition between content and method, between faith and life” (Directory, 4). The kerygma always invites those listening to continued conversion to Christ that is lived out and experienced in the community, motivated to perform Christian charity. Through the proclamation of the kerygma, the Gospel is brought to life in today’s world.