Kerygmatic Proclamation of Jesus Christ
Michael E. Steier, D.Min
The Audience
With all thenoise and distractions that characterize life today, it is a challenge tocapture people's attention. This is true even when the intent is to introducethem to Jesus Christ and proclaim the life-changing message of the Gospel. A question of trust seems often to lurk at theedges of our discourse, calling into question every statement and requiringthat each speaker demonstrate why he or she should be believed. In the face ofsuch cynicism, nothing cuts through this culture of doubt more effectively thanencounters with authentic first-hand witnesses.
The Witness
As theapostles began their proclamation of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world (inGreek, the Kerygma), their witness revolved around a simple and direct messagethat focused on the person of Jesus, his powerful witness and message, themiraculous deeds he worked, and the transformation of lives as they believed inhim and became his witnesses to the world. Saints Peter and Paul provide a number of examples of kerygmatic preaching in the Acts of theApostles[1].
"What we have heard, whatwe have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon, and touched with our ownhands… What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you!" (1 John 1-3)
They were deemedcredible witnesses because they had met and knew the person of Jesus Christ,and had formed a personal relationship with him. They were able to speak fromtheir experience of their encounterswith Jesus. In the words of St. John the evangelist: "What we have heard, whatwe have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon, and touched with our ownhands… What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you!" (1 John 1-3) Theywere also able to help their listeners understand the reasonableness ofbelieving in Jesus by referring to the Old Testament passages announcing thecoming of the Messiah.
Theirexperience of salvation in Jesus Christ urged them to proclaim and share God'sgood news to all whom they met. They took to heart St. Peter's admonition that"we should always be ready to render an account for the hope that is within us."(1 Peter 3:15) As history demonstrates, their preaching bore tremendous fruitin the hearts of those who came to believe because of them. Today'sevangelizers likewise need to cultivate a personal relationship with JesusChrist that will shine through and inform their witness to him before others.
The Heart of the Message (Kerygma)
It may bequite instructive to examine the kerygmatic template[2]provided by Peter in Acts 2:1-36.
- Setting: theoutpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13).
- Kerygmatic Message: Peter addresses the Jews gathered in Jerusalem, reminding them that theevents they have just experienced were foretold by the prophet Joel (Acts 2:14-21), and proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Messiah (Acts 2: 22-36) using thefollowing formula.
"Theecstatic prayer described in Acts 2:16-21 is due to the influence of theSpirit, which the prophet Joel foretold would be especially active in messianictimes (Acts 2:16-21);
Thecrucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, a man publicly known in Jerusalem because ofhis miracle-working, was an integral part of God's saving plan as God hasindicated by raising him from the dead (Acts 2:22f);
Theprophetic understanding of the Old Testament reveals that the resurrection andascension of the Messiah was God's actual saving plan, (Acts 2:25-35);
Thetrue meaning of the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus is that he isthe divinely enthroned messianic King of Israel (Acts 2:36), bestowing the giftof the Spirit upon all who accept him as Savior" (Acts 2:38)[3]
Jesus'proclamation requires a response from his listeners - repent of your sins,accept baptism, and live in the new life which Christ is offering (Acts 2:37-41).
See AlsoCatholic Daily Readings
- Some Take-Awaysfor Witnessing Today:
Thereis no replacement for authentic first-hand witnesses. As Christ's witnesses,you are encouraged to:
Cultivatean intimate communion with Jesus by regular Confession and worthy reception ofthe Eucharist at Mass;
Investthe time for study, Scripture reading, and prayer to come to know Jesus Christand form a personal relationship with him;
Stayunited to, and pray for the Church and for all those whom Jesus may send youfor your witness;
Makesure that your life is a worthy witness to Christ so that you can repeat St.Paul's words to the Corinthians: "I beg you, be imitators of me" (1 Cor 4:16)as I am of Christ.
Whenthe opportunity arises to give witness to your hope in Christ:
Berespectful, patient and understanding with all;
Takeyour cue from them about the pace of each conversation, and their readiness toexplore a relationship with Jesus Christ;
Makesure that your kerygmatic witness is rooted in a deep experience of Christ andhis Church;
Becomefamiliar with and use the kerygmatic template to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lordand Savior;
Don'tbe afraid to help your listeners understand the reasonableness of believing inJesus by referring to natural law and all the Old and New Testament passagesannouncing his future coming and role as Messiah.
Takecourage from Jesus' words to the Apostles before sending them out, even intimes of persecution, "do not worry about how you are to speak or what you areto say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say." (Mt 10:19)
[1] See Acts 2:14-36; 3:12-26;4:8-12; 5:29-32; 10:34-43; 13:16-41; 14:15-17; 17:22-31. The first 5 were byPeter, the last 3 were by Paul.
[2] For other kerygmatictemplates, see the blog by Msgr. Charles Pope, "What do the "Kerygmatic"Sermons of Acts have to teach us about the New Evangelization?"[https://blog.adw.org/2012/10/what-do-the-kerygmatic-sermons-of-acts-have-to-teach-us-about-thenew-evangelization]; and Sherry Weddell, FormingIntentional Disciples-The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus, Huntington,IN: Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 2012, chapter 10.
[3] New American Bible RevisedEdition (NABRE), Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,2011, Acts 2:14-36fn.
Michael Steier, D.Min. is Associate Director Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
