Igreja de mártires : o martírio como símbolo e condição do ser-cristão
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Data
2009
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Edições Universitárias Lusófonas
Resumo
Partindo de alguns dos mais importantes estudos exegético-interpretativos realizados por Erik Peterson (1890-1960), o presente artigo pretende sobretudo demonstrar a importância que o tema do Martírio tem no âmbito tanto da Teologia neo-testamentária como da história da Igreja. Mostra-se, assim, a importância de um texto como Mateus 10, aí onde se narra os termos em que Jesus envia os Apóstolos, e isso para mostrar como, na Igreja, o martírio brota simplesmente do facto de a Mensagem evangélica não se dirigir a uma humanidade abstracta ou considerada de forma neutral, mas, pelo contrário, antes se verifica que o Apóstolo é, por definição, enviado a anunciar o Evangelho do Reino de Deus mesmo em situações em que as estruturas sociais ou as pessoas individuais não estejam dispostas a, sem mais, receber o Kerygma. Daí, por exemplo, a importância de se reconhecer que os Apóstolos são enviados “como ovelhas para o meio de lobos” e, não menos, como, bem feitas as contas, estes sempre tendem a ser mais do que aquelas. Mostra-se também, nomeadamente a partir de uma breve leitura do Livro do Apocalipse, que num tempo, como o nosso, em que o mistério da iniquidade não cessa de se manifestar, nomeadamente mediante a ausência na sociedade humana de uma efectiva vigência da Lei de Deus, a condição de ser chamado a dar testemunho é, por definição, própria a todas as pessoas que, pelo Baptismo, se encontram realmente incorporadas no Mistério de Cristo. Em suma, o artigo mostra como a vida da Igreja está destinada a ser uma vida vivida no contexto da Grande Tribulação e como, assim, até ao fim, tem de permanecer. Acima de tudo, porém,evidencia-se que uma vida de testemunho só pode ser aquela a que, plenamente, se aplicam as Bem aventuranças proclamadas no Sermão da Montanha, pois a Felicidade de que os Evangelhos nos falam é, no final de contas, sempre aquela que nada melhor ilustra do que o testemunho dos Mártires.
Having as background references some of the most important exegetic-interpretative studies made by Erik Peterson (1890-1960), this paper intends chiefly to demonstrate the importance which the theme of Martyrdom has both in the scope of the Theology of the New Testament and in the history of the Church. Thus, the article demonstrates the importance of a text like Mathew 10, where the terms in which Jesus sends the apostles are described. This is made to demonstrate how, within the Church, martyrdom arises simply from the fact that the gospel message is not directed to an abstract humanity or considered in a neutral form, but, on the contrary, what one verifies is rather that the Apostle is, by definition, sent to announce the Gospel of God’s Kingdom even in situations in which the social structures or the individual persons are, for no reason, not receptive to the Kerygma. Hence the importance of recognizing that the Apostles are sent “like sheep into the middle of wolves”, and that wolves tend always to be in greater number than sheep. It is also demonstrated, namely from a brief reading of the Book of Revelation, that in a time, like ours, in which the mystery of inequity manifests itself continually, namely through the absence in human society of an effective validity of God’s Law, the condition of being called to bear witness is, by definition, proper to all persons who, through Baptism, are really incorporated into the Mystery of Christ. In short, the article demonstrates how life in the Church is destined to be lived in a context of Great Tribulation and how it has to continue like that until the end. Above anything else, however, it is pointed out that a life of witness can only be that of the Blessedness proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount, since the Happiness to which the Gospels refer to is, after all, always the one which no one better than the Martyrs bear witness to.
Having as background references some of the most important exegetic-interpretative studies made by Erik Peterson (1890-1960), this paper intends chiefly to demonstrate the importance which the theme of Martyrdom has both in the scope of the Theology of the New Testament and in the history of the Church. Thus, the article demonstrates the importance of a text like Mathew 10, where the terms in which Jesus sends the apostles are described. This is made to demonstrate how, within the Church, martyrdom arises simply from the fact that the gospel message is not directed to an abstract humanity or considered in a neutral form, but, on the contrary, what one verifies is rather that the Apostle is, by definition, sent to announce the Gospel of God’s Kingdom even in situations in which the social structures or the individual persons are, for no reason, not receptive to the Kerygma. Hence the importance of recognizing that the Apostles are sent “like sheep into the middle of wolves”, and that wolves tend always to be in greater number than sheep. It is also demonstrated, namely from a brief reading of the Book of Revelation, that in a time, like ours, in which the mystery of inequity manifests itself continually, namely through the absence in human society of an effective validity of God’s Law, the condition of being called to bear witness is, by definition, proper to all persons who, through Baptism, are really incorporated into the Mystery of Christ. In short, the article demonstrates how life in the Church is destined to be lived in a context of Great Tribulation and how it has to continue like that until the end. Above anything else, however, it is pointed out that a life of witness can only be that of the Blessedness proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount, since the Happiness to which the Gospels refer to is, after all, always the one which no one better than the Martyrs bear witness to.
Descrição
Revista Lusófona de Ciência das Religiões
Palavras-chave
RELIGIÃO, RELIGION, CATOLICISMO, CATHOLICISM, BÍBLIA, BIBLE, EVANGELIZAÇÃO, EVANGELIZATION, MÁRTIRES, MARTYRS, IGREJA CATÓLICA, CATHOLIC CHURCH, CRISTIANISMO, RELIGIÃO CATÓLICA, TEXTOS RELIGIOSOS, CHRISTIANISM, CATHOLIC RELIGION, RELIGIOUS TEXTS