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which are part of the Churchâs moral teaching
are taken out of the context which gives them
their meaning. The biggest problem is when the
message we preach then seems identified with
those secondary aspects which, important as
they are, do not in and of themselves convey the
heart of Christâs message. We need to be realistic
and not assume that our audience understands
the full background to what we are saying, or is
capable of relating what we say to the very heart
of the Gospel which gives it meaning, beauty
and attractiveness.
35.âPastoral ministry in a missionary style is not
obsessed with the disjointed transmission of a
multitude of doctrines to be insistently imposed.
When we adopt a pastoral goal and a missionary
style which would actually reach everyone with-
out exception or exclusion, the message has to
concentrate on the essentials, on what is most
beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the
same time most necessary. The message is sim-
plified, while losing none of its depth and truth,
and thus becomes all the more forceful and con-
vincing.
36.âAll revealed truths derive from the same di-
vine source and are to be believed with the same
faith, yet some of them are more important for
giving direct expression to the heart of the Gos-
pel. In this basic core, what shines forth is the
beauty of the saving love of God made mani-
fest in Jesus Christ who died and rose from the
