Sharing the Good News : reclaiming the Gospel narrative for today’s generation

Abstract

Cultural and societal narratives impact every person’s life. An analysis will be made of the current narratives being offered - or the lack thereof - to young people today and the effect these narratives are having on their wellbeing. Nihilism is in this dissertation is being identified as this void of narratives afflicting several young people. This has consequences not only on a person level, but its effects are being observed on a societal and cultural dimension. The Catholic Church, however, has always offered an alternative narrative to the narratives the world offers. The Church through her missionary disciples has always sought to set out to encounter in freedom with the message of the Gospel – the true and ever new narrative – people, communities and societies. The Gospel narratives are not simply here being describes as narrative which can provide values and morals alone. The Gospel narratives present the person of Jesus Christ himself, through whom all meaning can be found and through whom values, and moral standards are received. Missionary disciples are called to place themselves at the foot of this ever new and living narrative. They ought to study the contexts they are sent out to, and by being equipped with the necessary biblical narrative tools, encounter young people with the hope and joy of the Gospel.