Evangelization
Evangelization
What is Catholic Evangelization?
The word evangelization may be a difficult one for us to understand. It may not seem to mean anything in our everyday life. In fact, it may bring negative images to mind. But let’s look at the word more closely. "Evangel" means "good news" or "gospel." To evangelize means to share, or proclaim the good news of the gospel. This good news is contained in the core message of Jesus, "I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly." His mission was salvation for all through his life, death and resurrection. The good news is proclaimed at every liturgy, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." For us, this translates into the message of hope that in our daily "dying" with Christ, we too will rise again. Evangelization is a process of opening our hearts to God’s word, putting that message into practice in our daily lives, sharing the story of how God has touched us, and welcoming others to experience the good news. Our baptismal responsibility is to do all of these things as individuals and as a community of believers.
Why are we concerned about evangelization in the Catholic Church today? Forty percent, over 80 million people, in the United States have no church affiliation. Included in this number are 17 million inactive or alienated Catholics. In fact, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops survey found that one third to one half of registered parishioners are inactive, that is, persons who were baptized Catholic but are not presently active participants in the Catholic Church. In a national survey, fifty-two percent of the inactives questioned said they would welcome an invitation to join the church. Thus, Christ’s command, "go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation," is more important today than ever.
The following diagram will help illustrate the cycle of what takes place once we, as believers, are evangelized:
Each of us is called to share our faith. We can no longer leave this work to the ordained, vowed, religious, and church professionals. The mission of the laity in the workplace, the home, in social settings, and in the political arena is to proclaim and share the Good News. Take some time to reflect on the four elements of the evangelization cycle by looking at your own life experience in relation to the scriptures. Discover your own response to the call to evangelize.
Sharing My Story: Who will believe what has not been shared?
"I hear of your love and of the faith which you have in the Lord Jesus and in all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love because the hearts of God’s people have been refreshed by you." (Philemon 1:4-7)
Each of us is called to share the Good News we have heard and believed. Each of us can tell others of the ways that we have experienced God in our lives. Each of us needs to listen with respect to each other’s story of faith. Each of us can speak of these faith stories to each other as family and as a large Christian community. Each of us must share our faith, our hope, and our love with those who have not heard about or do not experience these gifts of God. Reflect on Matthew 10:1-33.
Welcoming Others: We can invite others by giving them the welcome of a listening heart.
"Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For Christ’s life of service was to show that God is faithful to God’s promises, and to enable all to praise God for God’s mercy. May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace by means of your faith, so that your hope may continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:7-13)
Each of us is called to invite others to turn toward God. Each of us can invite others to think more deeply about the meaning of their lives. Each of us can invite another to share our search for a deeper knowledge of the love of God. Each of us can invite another to pray. Each family can invite others to experience a hospitality in their home that clearly flows from Christian love. Each of us can invite another to share a community experience or come to our parish Eucharistic celebration. Reflect on John 1:35-50.
Accepting The Word: We cannot give what we have not first received.
"How can they call to God for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? Faith, then, comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ." (Romans 10:14-17)
Each of us is called to a personal relationship with a God who loves us. Each of us needs to listen to God’s Word as it is written in the Scriptures. Each of us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, must make a decision to surrender to God’s love and to commit ourselves to follow Christ. Each of us needs the support of a faith community to experience God’s love and empower us to go out to others. Reflect on Mark 4:1-9, 13-20.
Living It Out: Our lives speak more clearly than our words.
"Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to God’s Word; instead, put it into practice…For whoever looks closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keeps on paying attention to it and does not simply listen and then forget it, but puts it into practice, that person will be blessed by God is what is done." (James 1:22-25)
Each of us is called to share the love we have received with others. Each of us can show care for each person we meet at work, on the street, and in times of leisure. Each of us who is a member of a family can express our love for each other within the family. As a family, we can show love toward others. Each faith community must let people know that they are disciples of Christ by the love they have for one another. Each of us is called to help others as effectively as we can, especially the poor and the marginalized. Reflect on Matthew 5:13-16.
"Those who have received the Good News and who have been gathered by it into a community of salvation can and must communicate it and spread it…" (No. 13) (Evangelization in the Modern World, Pope Paul VI)
"It is unthinkable that a person should accept the word and give himself to the kingdom without becoming a person who bears witness to it and proclaims it in his turn." (No. 24) (Evangelization in the Modern World, Pope Paul VI)
Prayer for Evangelization
God of Word and Spirit, speak your life-giving truth, deepen our faith and quicken our enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Free us to communicate the faith we profess.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, strengthen us to be people of hospitality. May we invite others to the Good News of salvation by the witness of our lives. May we extend welcome to those who journeyed from our midst. May we heal the hurts of alienation and offer a place of belonging to those in search of community.
Renewed by conversion to gospel values, may we cast the fire of your Word and Spirit into our homes, our neighborhoods, our places of work and our world.
May our nation and culture be transformed by the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ, the Good News of Truth and Life now, always and forever. Amen.
Office of Evangelization
Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
1031 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216) 696-6525, Ext. 4530