Faced with the scenarios of the new evangelization (socio-cultural and economic, political, scientific and technological, etc.), the Document for the Synod on the New Evangelization encourages us to discern the lights and shadows of the Christian experience.

Let us begin with some of the lights, achievements and successes noted in the text. The current migratory process has led to meeting and exchange of gifts among Christian communities. Globalization is bringing an awareness that it is necessary to go beyond the geographical confines, going out to meeting of the diversities that interweave social relations, because the Christian mission statement is found in all five continents. The economic scenario (the persistent and widespread crisis) has fostered greater concern for the poor and greater social sensitivity. This is true, and it is a sensitivity that must grow, because it is a requirement of the Good News of Love for God and others and, therefore, it is a privileged path for the advertisement of the Gospel.

These lights are indeed and point in fruitful directions. At the same time, it must be recognized that, in many environments, they are lights that can and should increase in intensity.

Religious diversity offers the possibility, first of all, of the common witness of Christians, and more broadly of believers, to advance in peace and in the development of an ever more human society. Where Christians are in a minority but in freedom, they can discover different ways of their presence in the world; where they are persecuted, evangelization is more clearly associated with the cross, an aspect that should be remembered in a general way. This is so, because it is not we who "succeed" in evangelizing, but the power of Christ's action and of his Spirit. Hence the need for each one to attend to prayer, the sacraments, the training in its various aspects (human, spiritual, theological, evangelizing, etc.), fidelity to one's duties and commitments.

In fact, looking at the shadows that seem to have contributed to the departure from the faith (up to the "silent apostasy"), the document points out the lack of an adequate ecclesial response in so many aspects. It dwells on some personal factors. Among them, the lack of participation in the transmission of the faith; the insufficient spiritual accompaniment; the excessive bureaucratization of the ecclesial Structures ; the routine in the liturgical celebrations; the testimony contrary to the Christian spirit (infidelity to the vocation, scandals, lack of sensitivity to the problems of the people and of the present world).

These are aspects that deserve to be studied in depth: what has been lacking, or what has been in excess, in these cases; or, simply, why has this happened; what has caused each of these factors to prevail over the "symphony of faith"?

The process of discernment on these and other points should lead us to rediscover, in the first place, the essential aspects of Christianity and Education in the faith; and also the different expressions and "styles" that, while respecting the essential, Christian life today requires (in faith, in liturgical celebration, in the broad space of families, work, social and cultural relationships) in order to grow and develop in the direction that the Second Vatican Council wanted to promote. This Council, which has been one of God's greatest gifts to our time (despite the negative vision of Vatican II that some seem determined to sow), proclaimed the universal call to holiness and the responsibility of all Christians both in the Church's Building and in the construction of a world more supportive and open to God.

All this, and the text rightly points this out, must take into account the mystery of human freedom (which is capable of rebelling against God and against the Church), as well as the "mystery of iniquity" (2 Thess 2:7) and its protagonist (the Evil One).

Even if it sounds a bit general, it is good to look at the horizon: "The new evangelization should try to direct the freedom of people, men and women, towards God, source of truth, goodness and beauty. The renewal of the faith should help to overcome the above-mentioned obstacles to an authentic Christian life, according to the will of God, expressed in the commandment of love of God and neighbor (cf. Mk 12:33)" (n. 69).