Colkoch at Enlighened Catholicism has a post up on the Synod for New Evangelization, and the heavy hand Opus Dei which is apparent in its composition, observing that

It looks to me like the Synod for the New Evangelization will be convened not to celebrate Vatican II, but to put the final nail in it’s coffin and to celebrate the final take over of the Vatican by Opus Dei. Nothing like substituting Catholic elitism for evangelization. This is indeed something to rejoice in if you are convinced that killing most of what’s left of the Church in the West is a good thing. No question that Pope Benedict and his predecessor have had that goal in mind for the last forty five years. Better for the Church to take it’s marching orders from Opus Dei and Communion and Liberation than leave it up to that agent of religious chaos, the Holy Spirit. No self respecting wealthy conservative could ever let the mooching rabble dictate God’s policies for God’s people. Can’t be lettin’ the takers destroy the Church of the makers. Been this way since Constantine.

I have nothing to add on Opus Die, but instead of all the energy going into the “New Evangelizing” (of the West), I do wish there could be some attention paid to re-evangelizing the Catholic oligarchy.

I have just finished reading Jose Pagola’s impressive “Jesus, an Historical Approximation “, a superb, scholarly analysis of the man, his life and his teaching in historical context. Going through it, I was constantly struck by the huge disparities between Jesus’ ideas and methods, and those of Benedict and his lackies: if I didn’t know better, I would almost think they had never heard about Jesus Christ and the Gospels.

I will have more to say later about this book (after rereading and reflecting a little longer), and the many ways in which its account indirectly highlights Jesus’ radical contrast with the practice of the institutional church. For now, I offer only a listing of the chapter headings and sub-headings, which give some flavour of the contents.

Preface

1. Why have I written this book?
2. What do I offer in this book?
3. How have I developed this approach to Jesus?
4. What is the role of my faith?
5. How should you read this book?
6. Of whom am I thinking as I write?

 

1. A Galilean Jew

1. Under the Roman Empire
2. The grandiose and sinister memory of Herod
3. Galilee in the time of Antipas
4. Urbanisation in Galilee
5. A different kind of Jews

 

2. Life in Nazareth

1. Jesus’ hometown
2. In the heart of a Jewish family
3. Among the people of the countryside
4. The religious environment
5. A worker’s life
6. Unmarried, without children

3. A Seeker of God

1. John’s radical diagnosis
2. The new beginning
3. The baptism of John
4. What the baptist expected
5. The “conversion” of Jesus
6. The new mission of Jesus

4. A Prophet of the Reign of God

1. An itinerant prophet
2. Passion for the reign of God
3. An ancient hope
4. A burning hope in the heart of the people
5. God is already here!
6. The best news
7. God, the friend of life
8. The fortunate poor
9. Things have to change
10. The best is yet to come

5. A Poet of Compassion

1. The collection of the parables
2. Life is more than meets the eye
3. God is merciful
4. Be merciful like your father

6. A Healer of Life

1. Sickness in Galilee
2. No easy way to healing
3. An unusual healer
4. Jesus’ curative power
5. Liberation from demons
6. Signs of a new world

Defender of the Last

1. The last in Galilee
2. God belongs to those who have no one
3. Foolishness or solidarity
4. Dignity for the undesirable
5. Friend of sinners
6. The forgiveness Jesus offers
7. Undeserved forgiveness

7. A Friend of Women

1. The status of Jewish women
2. Friend of the last women
3. Breaking the mold
4. A different way of seeing
5. A space not controlled by men
6. Women as Jesus’ disciples
7. The woman closest to Jesus

7. A Teacher of Life

1. An unconventional teacher
2. Change your hearts!
3. Beyond the Law
4. The important thing is love
5. Love your enemies
6. The nonviolent struggle for justice

8. Creator of a Renewal Movement

1. His power of attraction
2. A widespread, warm welcome
3. The Twelve
4. A radical summons
5. Living with Jesus
6. A new family
7. In the service of God’s plan
8. Sent out to proclaim God by healing

9. A Faithful Believer

1. Rooted in the faith of his people
2. A decisive experience
3. Withdrawing to pray
4. God as the Father
5. Jesus’ good Father
6. The God of life
7. The prayer of Jesus

10. Combative and Dangerous

1. Conflict with the Pharisaic sectors
2. Opposition to the religious authorities
3. The defensiveness of the Roman powers
4. Single - minded to the end
5. A dangerous pilgrimage to Jerusalem
6. A very dangerous act
7. A memorable farewell

11. Martyr of the Reign of God

1. Handed over by the temple authorities
2. Condemned to death by Rome
3. The horror of the crucifixion
4. The final hours
5. In the hands of the Father

12. Raised by God

1. God has raised him!
2. What happened in Jesus’ resurrection?
3. On the way to new faith in the risen Christ
4. The decisive experience
5. Was Jesus’ tomb empty?
6. God has vindicated Jesus and done him justice

Exploring the Identity of Jesus

1. The Gospel of Mark
2. The Gospel of Matthew
3. The Gospel of Luke
4. The Gospel of John
5. Finding the right name for Jesus
   1. Messiah
   2. A New Man
   3. High Priest
   4. Lord
   5. Incarnate Word of God
   6. Son of God
6. Encounter with the living Jesus Christ
   1. The story of the disciples at Emmaus
   2. Mary’s encounter with the risen one

Epilogue

1. Coming back to Jesus
2. Believing in the God of life
3. Living for the reign of God
4. Following Jesus
5. Building the Church of Jesus
6. Living and dying in the hope of Jesus

Appendices

1. Brief historical profile of Jesus
2. General criteria of interpretation
3. Literary sources
4. Criteria of historicity
5. Basic Archaeological information
6. Current methods of research on Jesus
7. Jesus in science fiction
8. Chronology

Bibliography by chapters

General Bibliography

Related articles

• Gays for Jesus: Catholic and Evangelical

• Synod For Evangelization? Or Remaking The Church In The Elitist Image Of Opus Dei (enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com)
• Taking Jesus Seriously (José Antonio Pagola , at Iglesia Descalza