Evangelization

"There exists today the clear need for a New Evangelization." ~ Pope John Paul II

WHAT IS EVANGELIZATION?

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, evangelization means "bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation." Evangelization leads to conversion.

As Catholics we believe that conversion is an on-going proves throughout our lives that brings us into closer union with God and the gospel message. Sometimes, conversion is a dramatic event that shakes us to the core of ourselves. Other times, it happens quietly as we are drawn toward new understandings and insights. Conversion is always the work of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit uses ordinary people and events to bring about conversion. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work through you to bring someone to conversion, you have discovered the essence of what it means to evangelize.

"What we say does not matter, only what God says to souls through us." ~ Mother Teresa

WHY DO WE NEED TO EVANGELIZE?

Before ascending into Heaven, Jesus commanded us to evangelize when He said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19-20)

Throughout His ministry, Jesus used a variety of images about the need to evangelize. He talked about catching fish (Luke 5:10), sowing seeds (Mark 4:1-9), lighting a lamp (Mark 4:21-25), and how few workers there were for the harvest (Luke 10:2). He told stories about great rejoicing over a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a prodigal son (Luke 15:1-32)

Jesus was the first and greatest evangelizer. He came to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. We see in His teaching, His miracles, His interaction with people, and His sending out of the disciples, the example of His own evangelizing activity. If we want to follow in the footsteps of Christ, then we must become evangelizers, too.

"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." ~ Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi

WHO NEEDS TO BE EVANGELIZED?

Children need to be evangelized in order to grow in faith and understanding. Inactive Catholics, who no longer attend Mass regularly, need to be evangelized so that they can return to a life of active faith.
Alienated Catholics who have left the Church need to be evangelized so they know how much we miss them and want them to return. People who have no faith need to be evangelized so they can be welcomed into a new life with Christ and the Church. Most of all, we need to be evangelized ourselves in order to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church.

"The fruit of evangelization is changed lives and a changed world." ~ U.S. Catholic Bishops, Go and Make Disciples

HOW DO WE EVANGELIZE?

There are four essential elements in the process of evangelization.

1. Listening. The most sacred thing a person can share is his or her own story. When we listen, we enter into a person's heart, mind, and soul. We see their search for meaning. We catch a glimpse of their struggle or their pain.

2. Sharing our faith. We can share what our faith means to us in words by telling others how the Holy Spirit has worked in our lives. We can also share our faith through actions that demonstrate the ways in which we try to live authentically the gospel message.

3. Extending an invitation. It might be an invitation to come to Mass or to some Catholic devotion, to talk with a priest or spiritual adviser, to read a book or pamphlet, to listen to a lecture, to assist in some ministry, to pray together, or to attend a parish social event.

4. Praying. Pope John Paul II tells us, "There must be unceasing prayer to nourish the desire to carry Christ to all men and women."

While all of these elements are essential, the important thing to remember is that there is no step-by-step recipe for evangelization. The Holy Spirit will use your natural gifts and talents for the work of evangelization if you are open and willing. Before long, you'll begin to see that you've developed your own style of evangelization!

Taken from OurSundayVisitor pamphlet titled "Evangelization"