Evangelization Outlook
Adults of a certain age will remember being asked out of anger or frustration “What are you doing, for Christ’s sake?” Just take out the comma and ask yourself the question “What are YOU doing for Christ’s sake?”
Take the first step into evangelization and share your answer with someone
else …
Both St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Mary as the “Star of Evangelization” because of the way in which she brings people to Christ.
Pope Benedict XVI, reflecting on the meaning of Mary’s journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth writes, “[Mary] wants, above all, to help others meet Jesus. We have come to the truest meaning and most genuine purpose of every missionary journey: to give people the living and personal Gospel, which is the Lord Jesus Christ himself.”
One Sunday Mass when my son was 4 or 5, we were reciting the Prayer Before Communion, which at that time was “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” A tug on my sleeve and a small voice whispered, “What’s the word?” Startled, I managed “Huh?” Insistent, he repeated, “What’s the word? He (the priest) said there was a word. I want to know the word.” Panicked, I prayed the classic Holy Spirit prayer, “Help!” What came out of my mouth was “God says ‘I love you and I forgive you.’”
Who does God need you to share that word with? That’s evangelization.
Seen on a church sign: A church is a gift from God. Assembly required.
Assembly = congregation = people of God = you and me.
What part are you adding to the construction?
“What’s the good word?” That was my Dad’s standard opening to any conversation, whether with a client, neighbor or friend. It’s still a good question to ask others and, after listening carefully to their response, share your ‘good word’ about a God-moment in your life.
That’s evangelization …
