Evangelization and witnessing is often a fearful prospect for many Catholics, yet it is the Christian mandate and one of the highest callings we can pursue, as well as a current focus of the Church. We can learn much from Luke 10, where Jesus sent out the seventy to go before him to prepare the way; primarily that witnessing for Jesus is simply living and relating to others in such a way that they comprehend that "the Kingdom of God has come near." For many in this world that is the beginning of hope, the realization that God and his life is accessible to them. Luke 10 is pregnant with principles of evangelization which, when applied, can remove the anxiety associated with evangelization and contribute to the effectiveness of our witness. These principles include:

METHODOLOGY--The Lord "sent them on ahead of him, two by two." Evangelization normally works best when it is a joint effort of two or more people. A companion in Christ reduces the stress of relating and talking to someone about Jesus, and it more than doubles the creativity and wisdom that can be brought to the process of revealing the Kingdom of God to others. Having another with whom we can pray for people's conversion is very empowering. Together you can seek the Holy Spirit's intervention to soften and prepare the hearts of pre-believers so that they will be ready to welcome the Good News of God's love, and Jesus' sacrifice for them.

ATTITUDE--The Lord said, "I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves." One reason witnessing has received such a bad rap, and causes many Catholics to shy away from it, is that we know and in many cases have experienced the abuses of overzealous witnesses who did not have the attitude of a lamb. Lambs are gentle and meek, humble of heart if you will. It would be totally out of charactef for a lamb to beat a wolf, or any creature, over the head with the truth. As witnessing lambs we can with confidence, tell others the Gospel truth of which we have become certain, but we must not attempt to overpower them into the Kingdom. If we are praying for them, if we are romancing them with the loving words of truth, accompanied by a humble spirit of service, they will frequently be wooed into saying "Yes!" to Jesus' offer of redemption and union.

RELATIONSHIP--The Lord instructed them to "remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide ... heal the sick in it ... ." Evangelization should not primarily be an onslaught of religious words and challenges but rather an incarnational dwelling among those without Christ. A witness must be willing to dwell among people as a visual-aid of God's love within their environment, embracing their culture, and carrying their concerns. In this way Christ comes to dwell among people again, in the form of witnesses who lend their bodies to Christ so that he can convey his love through them.

MOTIVE--"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this ... rejoice that your names are written in heaven." There is great joy in witnessing someone's passage from darkness to light. We are thrilled to see someone unite with Christ in baptism, especially those to whom we have been instrumental in communicating the Gospel, yet we must not be motivated by a triumphant mentality. Our relationship with Christ must be the motivating factor for all we do. It must be so meaningful to us that the reason we are witnessing is not for personal glory, but so that others might also experience the joy we know in Christ. He is our motive.

Christ desires to reach the world, beginning with your world and your witness. It is unreasonable that a witness should have to be sent from half-way around the world, or even from across the  city, to bring the Gospel to your neighbors or your acquaintances. That is why he has you there.

We are well into the Year of Faith, and it seems appropriate to ask, "How is this focus on faith working for you?"

Someone has observed that, "there is no better test for a man's ultimate integrity than his behavior when he is wrong," --- and I might add, "than when he needs to change." All too often we are graciously willing to discuss God's Word, and listen to God's truth proclaimed, just as long as those doing it don't talk about things that are personal to us. When they do begin drawing inferences that really touch our lives, we often respond negatively either outwardly or inwardly saying; "Now you have stopped preaching and gone to meddling!"

Jesus encountered this same response in Luke 4:21-30. As he finished reading the Isaiah passage, the hearers were all graciously amiable as they expressed their amazement at this reading by the carpenter's son. However, as Jesus looked beyond their outward response to their unresponsive and unbelieving hearts, their amazement turned to open rejection and hostility at his apparent "meddling."

This Gospel account raises a question which warrants our attention during this Year of Faith: "How do we respond to God's call for conversion and change when we encounter it? And perhaps there is an even more basic question we should consider: "Do we desire conversion and change?" The hope of the Gospel is that Christ brings a holy and powerful force into our lives which will enable us to break the bonds of enslavement to our old nature and its passions and habits. Real inner change is often uncomfortable because it requires us to admit that there is an area of our lives that is wrong. Consequently, we often respond to the agent of change with defensiveness, resistance, and resentment, rather than welcoming the encouragement to change. Someone has aptly said, "If you think you're green you'll grow, if you think you're ripe, you'll rot." The first step in conversion and change is to be dissatisfied with our status quo and to recognize that there is a need for spiritual change.

Will this Year of Faith be a year of responsiveness to Christ, and a year of change and growth in our faith, or will it be a year of passive resistance and complacency to the Holy Spirit's working within us? What this new year holds for us reminds me of a story from Forty Days and Forty Nights, by Brother Ramon, SSF. He tells of two boys endeavoring to play a joke on a holy hermit. One intended to hold a bird in his hand behind his back, and ask the hermit if the bird was dead or alive. If the hermit said the bird was dead, the boy intended to open his hand and let the bird fly up to the sky. If the hermit said it was alive, the boy planned to crush the bird in his hand to prove that the wise old man was wrong. "Father," said one of the lads, "I have a small bird in my hand. Is it alive or dead?" There was a silence. The old man fixed him with his gaze. Eventually he chuckled and said; "Well, boys--it all depends on you!"

Will this Year of Faith be one of responsiveness to Christ, and a year of change and growth in our faith, or will it be a year of passive resistance and complacency to the Holy Spirit's working within?--"It all depends on you!"

October 11th begins the Year of Faith. October also marks the beginning of a General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops who will explore the theme "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Faith." What can we do to make this year especially significant in our faith journey?

St. Paul in the book of Romans (10:16-21) provides important insight into a life of faith. He explains that faith comes from hearing the Word of God. For this Year of Faith to be significantly different for us as Catholic Christians it must involve a significant encounter with Jesus the Word of God, through Sacred Scripture, the written Word of God. I would suggest that quantitatively this means more time invested taking God's Word into our mind, and qualitatively more intently listening to God with the ears of our heart.

Pope Benedict points out in Verbum Domini that this is a choice we make, "The word of God also inevitably reveals the tragic possibility that human freedom can withdraw from this covenant dialog with God for which we were created. . . . in both the Old and in the New Testament, we find sin described as a refusal to hear the word, as a breaking of the covenant and thus as being closed to God who calls us to communion with himself. Sacred Scripture shows how man's sin is essentially disobedience and refusal to hear." (Emphasis added)

Reflecting again on the Romans passage, St. Paul also connects hearing the Word of God with the issue of obedience, by implying that Isaiah's problem with Israel was not that they did not hear what God said through the Law and the Prophets, but that they chose to remain "disobedient and obstinate." Isaiah's experience with a faithless Israel stands out in stark contrast to the individuals who are listed in the honor roll of faith in Hebrews 11; "by faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice, by faith Abraham . . . went out not knowing where he was going;  by faith Sarah . . . conceived," etc. Each of the Israelites mentioned in Hebrews 11 exercised their faith by acting upon it in obedience, and doing something--they believed "that He [God] is, and that He [God] is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

The proper response to hearing God is obedient action based on faith as Pope Benedict points out, "What is the distinctive mark of faith? Full and unhesitating certainty that the words inspired by God are true. . . . What is the distinctive mark of the faithful? Conforming their lives with the same complete certainty to the meaning of the words of Scripture, not daring to remove a single thing"

With a little bit of effort this coming Year of Faith can be memorable for us. Will it be?

^{The above two quotes are from Pope Benedict XVI from The Word of the Lord (Verbum Domini), paragraphs 26 and 50.}

It is hard to think of an analogy that would depict what the Christian life woulld be like without the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the closest analogy would be to picture the chaos and impotency that would come if language, verbal and non-verbal, was suddenly to cease existing. One can only begin to imagine the sense of hopelessness we would experience not being able to communicate with even one other person. The powerlessness would be overwhelming. We would be unable to accomplish much of anything. There would be no information systems, no books, and no written instructions on how to do things. The sense of isolation and dislocation would be unbearable. Love, appreciation, and belonging would not be able to be expressed or received. Needs would not be able to be communicated nor could help be provided. Communication, one of the essential elements that make us distinctively human, when removed, would change life beyond recognition or description.

Pentecost Sunday celebrates the Father and Son's gift to us of the Holy Spirit. Similar to the above example, the Holy Spirit is the essential ingredient that makes us distinctively Christian, the absence of which would change our life beyond recognition or description. To appreciate the Holy Spirit's presence we want to think for a minute of what life would be like without him, if history was suddenly turned back, and the Holy Spirit was removed. How would our Christian life be different? There would be . . .

• No belonging—"But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (Romans 8:9)

• No assurance—"In him you...were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it." (Ephesians 1:13,14)

• No revelation (New Testament Scripture)—"The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26)

• No illumination—"So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God." (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)

• No power in prayer—"... we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words... the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26,27)

• No power to witness—"... you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)

• No unity—"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body..." (1 Corinthians 12:13) "... maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit..." (Ephesians 4:3-4)

These are just a few of the things made possible to us by the Holy Spirit's presence. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit was given to us, Jesus' Body, and his presence will remain with us until Jesus returns. How can we more fully express our appreciation for the Holy Spirit? By opening our heart and life anew to his indwelling presence.

"In our day too, the Spirit is the principal agent of the new evangelization. Hence it will be important to gain a renewed appreciation of the Spirit as the One who builds the Kingdom of God within the course of history and prepares its full manifestation in Jesus Christ, stirring people's hearts and quickening in our world the seeds of full salvation which will come at the end of time." (On the Coming of the Third Millennium, by Pope John Paul II)–

"Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." (Deus Caritas Est by Pope Benedict XVI)

This year in a little more than three short months we will have celebrated Jesus' life, from his incarnation through his resurrection; celebrations which enable us to emotionally and spiritually walk with Jesus and his disciples through their life and struggles. At Christmas our hearts filled with joy as we contemplate a love so great. During Holy Thursday our hearts alternately warm and chill as we experience the inauguration of the Eucharist, and hear the warning of Jesus' upcoming betrayal. Our hearts become burdened with heaviness when on Good Friday we recall Jesus' arrest and abusive trial and crucifixion, even while we know "the rest of the story." Then in the Easter vigil and celebration we are able to exalt in Jesus' resurrection and victory over sin, death, and Satan. We rejoice knowing that death is destroyed once and for all and that we have new life through faith in Jesus' merits.

Sadly, for many, the story of Jesus' life cycle ends on Easter morning, whereas it should be the beginning of life, "a new horizon and a decisive direction," which we should be experiencing in the future. What are we celebrating if we are not celebrating entrance into a new way of living? How tragic it would have been for the disciples to have participated in this fateful week in Jesus' life, and to have walked away unchanged. How tragic it would have been if they simply returned to their homes, and picked up their lives where they left off before they met Jesus. Would it be possible to really comprehend these truths, celebrate them, and walk away unchanged by them? I think not.

There are two expected changes that are fully recognizable in reading the Gospel of Jesus' life. The message "Peace be with you" is present from the beginning to the end. No more should our lives be characterized by fear; fear of God, fear of death, fear of retribution, or fear of powerlessness in our lives to overcome darkness. As we contemplate the finished work of Christ and entrust ourselves to him, we will see a diminishing of fear and an upsurging of peace filling our being.

A second change should come about as we grasp Jesus' statement, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." This commission provides purpose and direction for a life time. No more must we wander meaninglessly about, trying to discover why we exist, or what is our purpose. Jesus' resurrection and this commission he gave provide the ultimate promotion--to be ambassadors of Christ in a world that lives in the darkness from which we have been delivered. We have become carriers of forgiveness to a world experiencing the effects of condemnation.

If we walk away unchanged, only to experience life as do the non-believers around us, we are missing out, really missing out. Jesus truly offers us "eternal life," not simply a life that never ends, but a new life, a life with new attitudes, with a new spirit, with new power over sin, with new relationships in a new family. We need not walk away unchanged. We can continue to walk with the disciples emotionally and spiritually for the remainder of our life. The process for us is the same as it was for the disciples. As Pope Benedict explains we are to maintain a "constant renewal of this encounter" with Jesus, allowing him to breathe into us life with a new horizon and decisive direction; to carry his message of love into the world.

 "The word of God makes us change our concept of realism: the realist is the one who recognizes in the word of God the foundation of all things." (Verbum Domini)

Have you ever been in a place where all light was obscured? It is disconcerting isn't it? I've experienced this disconcerting darkness on a moonless summer night, walking on an unlit Colorado dirt road. The majestic evergreens and the sandstone rock formations obscured all real and all ambient light, creating a black cavern of uncertainty. We could not see where the dirt roadside ended and the steep sides of the perilous ditch began. Consequently, progress was slow as we carefully walked along feeling with our feet for the road's edge. For the person without wisdom, life is equally as perilous and confusing. As one progresses through life the absence of wisdom, God's light on our human darkness, quickly magnifies the dangers  and confusion.

By contrast the presence of God's light makes even the darkest hours light. On another occasion at 3:00 a.m. on a Colorado mountainside, some 11,000 feet in elevation, all darkness was dispelled by the large, brilliant, illuminating full moon. Though we were in the deepest  hours of night's darkness, this heavenly light was so illuminating that we could have literally read a book without difficulty. This too is a good analogy about God's wisdom. When we are immersed in situations that normally would be dark and confusing, the heavenly presence of God's wisdom, dispels the darkness, and enlightens our path.

These two contrasting analogies are not an overstatement, or an over-simplification of the value of wisdom. Though wisdom doesn't enable a person to escape the difficulties and challenges of life, wisdom does enable us to make sense of the seemingly senseless, and provides enlightening direction when choices must be made. On the other hand a foolish person, one who does not avail himself of God's wisdom, suffers both confusion and the consequences of bumbling responses to life's choices, made without light.

Where does one get wisdom? It comes from dwelling in the presence of Wisdom. Saint Cyprian explains it well, "The commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God's lessons, the foundations on which to build hope, the support for strengthening faith, the food that nourishes the heart. They are the rudder for keeping us on the right course, the protection that keeps our salvation secure. As they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lead safely to the Kingdom of God."

We make ourselves available to soak in, and absorb wisdom as we make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit through sacred Scripture, and to wisdom which come through godly people. Insight becomes second nature, as we become "partakers of the divine nature," (2 Peter 1:3-4) through knowledge of Jesus, and as we learn from God's truth and see life from God's perspective. St. James says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him."

Wouldn't you love to know more of what Jesus talked about with his disciples during the forty days between his resurrection and his ascension? We do know that whatever it was, it changed them from  being frightened and fear-filled disciples to people of courage as they proclaimed Christ.

Additionally, during those forty days when Jesus "continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3 NJB), they became accustomed to celebrating the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week instead of simply attending temple worship. Consequently, in those early days after Jesus' ascension the disciples saw abundant conversions among the people, and those converted "remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of the bread and prayers" (Acts 2:42 NJB).

In the Gospels' accounts of Jesus' life we see that much of his ministry, including his post resurrection ministry, revolved around shared meals. Some meals were simple, others elaborate. Some were with friends, others with strangers. Some were with saints, others with sinners. Yet all the meals Jesus shared with others had one thing in common: each meal was an invitation to friendship with the Son of God.

For instance Peter, undoubtedly dejected by Jesus' death and his own failure in denying Jesus, decided, "I am going fishing," and his companions the other disciples agreed to go with him and keep him company. After a night of failure, and with a boat empty of fish, the risen Lord confronted his friends' sorrow and toil with his own power and abundance. He called to them and advised "throw the net out to starboard" (John 21:6 NJB) and they pulled in an abundance of fish so plentiful that it was amazing that their nets did not break.

By the time they returned to shore Jesus already had a charcoal fire burning in preparation for breakfast and offered them some fish he had prepared. The Lord matched the abundance of their catch with the abundance of his love. Instead of rebuke, Peter found reconciliation. Jesus restored community with Peter and his disciples--and restored their hope as well, by entrusting to them the task of world evangelization and the responsibility to feed his followers.

We cannot know all that Jesus did during those forty days, but we can respond to what we know. We know his love is abundant, that it includes all the world, and that he gives to each of us who belong to his Church a responsibility to participate in the task of evangelization. The forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension changed the lives of the disciples--will it change your life?

(You can learn more about this important  period in the life of Jesus by completing The Words of the Risen Christ bible study offered by Emmaus Journey.)

Easter was a time when disappointment was turned to delight, and delight was turned to destruction.

Surely Satan and the forces of evil must have thought they had won. And if the forces of evil could have danced, surely they must have been dancing on that day when that they thought they had killed the Son of God. Darkness seemed to have been reigning supreme from the time when Judas and an armed consort came to arrest Jesus. They came under the cloak of darkness, a darkness intended to provide cover for their evil intentions and sadly it also provided cover for the shameful abandonment of Jesus by his disciples. Even Peter had to slink away into the darkness to hide his shame.

How Satan and the forces of evil must have rejoiced as “from noon onward there was darkness over the whole land,” until at last Jesus “gave up His spirit.” How they must have believed that this darkness was just a foretaste of the spiritual darkness which would envelope the earth unabated by the Light of the World. But God had another plan and turned their delight to disappointment. Darkness instead of triumphing over Jesus simply provided a backdrop against which the dawning of the Light of the World could shine with increasing glory.

While darkness still seemed to reign, Mary Magdalene and her companions, and later Peter and John, came “while it was still dark” only to find an empty tomb. Disappointment upon disappointment, or so it seemed at first, but when they realized that the face cloth was separate from the other burial wrappings, a ray of hope and light pierced the darkness, never to be extinguished again. It was a ray of hope and light which was to grow in brilliance as Christ’s resurrection became known and understood. Praise God, disappointment is turned to delight!

“The New Testament writers speak as if Christ’s achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the ‘first fruits’, the ‘pioneer of life.’ He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the Prince of Darkness, the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so. This is the beginning of the New Creation: a new chapter in cosmic history has opened,” (C.S. Lewis, from Miracles)

Jesus anticipated and warned them of their disappointment; “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful.” (Jn 16:20) but he also promised that “your sorrow will turn into joy.” Wouldn’t you love to know more of what Jesus did during the forty days after his resurrection? Whatever he said, and whatever he did, enabled them to return to Jerusalem with great joy. (Lk 11:52) Most people are sorrowful when a loved one departs for heaven, but it was not so with Jesus’ disciples. They understood that his resurrection and ascension into heaven opened the door for the Trinity to forever be with them and all who believe. So their great sorrow was turned into everlasting delight.

Wherever, or whenever, you are experiencing great darkness of the soul, Jesus is there, a Light shining in darkness. He can turn our disappointment to delight. The resurrection not only holds the promise of eternal life, but also the promise that Satan and the forces of evil will not prevail in our lives. In Christ, you are a new creation, and you can experience the joy of living as a new creation let the LIGHT so shine.

The Season of Lent is a time when we should reflect more deeply on our life in Christ as Catholic Christians. It should be a time of reflection not one of morbid introspection. In some ways it is not unlike the other “lint” we encounter in life. Prior to an important event or meeting it is not unusual to scrutinize our clothing to see if there are any spots or if we have picked up any lint on our clothing, so that we can remove it and be more presentable. It is not as though we were wearing dirty rags, but simply that we want to make sure that our clothing hasn’t picked up unseemly bits of dirt as we have navigated through our world. So we take a moment to check our clothing.

I am reminded of Ephesians 4 where St. Paul wrote to the church and made three suggestions on how they can scrutinize their life and prepare for representing Christ in their world. The end result he sought for was not to simply focus on their shortcomings but to focus on becoming consistent with the new nature of Christ which they had received. He advised them to:

• Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts,
• and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
• and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Lent is a time to make a few changes to our spiritual clothing. It is a time to discover those pieces of the old nature which are still clinging to us and to wholeheartedly “put off” those things. That is one reason why so much emphasis is put on participating in the Rite of Reconciliation (Confession) at the beginning of Lent. The Church is concerned that, especially during this time leading up to the memorial of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, that we reflect on our lives, name those things that are adversely affecting our relationship with Christ, and his Church, and abandon them. The process sometimes can be very difficult  but the results are refreshing and life giving.

Lent should be a time of personal and spiritual renewal.  We cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this process when we chose a Lenten fast of some kind to awaken within us a deeper awareness of Christ, and when we take time to read sacred Scripture more attentively, attend the Sacraments more frequently, give more generously, and pray more faithfully. Many have found it very helpful to be part of a small-group where they study and discuss something like our Seven Last Words of Christ bible study. Instead of simply giving up coffee or chocolates, etc., they chose to give up an hour a week to discuss Christ’s Passion. As they do they discover that the small faith community experience greatly stimulates their desire to know and follow Christ. The “be renewed” element is an essential part of the experience of Lent.

Out of this time of renewal we are then able to more fully “put on” the new nature of Christ and be ready to celebrate his resurrection, not only at Easter but also thereafter, as we go forth into the world to be his disciple and represent him. This putting on the new nature is a gift given to us by Christ. Our eyes light up when we discover that someone has bought a new item of clothing for us, and Lent should be no different. It should be a time of anticipation as we wait to see with what new aspect of his nature Jesus desires to clothe us during our Lenten journey.

I pray that for you this Lenten Season will be more life changing than any previous one.

Over the past 10 years, as I have shared with friends and acquaintances some of the exciting ministry taking place within the Catholic Church, I have used the expression “evangelical Catholic.” When I do, invariably someone will reply, or imply, “Isn’t that an oxymoron?” — a contradiction in terms. It is fun and sometimes a challenge to assure them that it isn’t an oxymoron but that Catholics are increasingly in the forefront of evangelization.

 The term “evangelical” can have various shades of meaning but by in large it refers to a Christian who is committed to the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by word and deed. This evangelical imperative provoked Pope Paul VI to ask in 1975, “Does the Church or does she not find herself better equipped to proclaim the Gospel and to put it into people’s hearts with conviction, freedom of spirit and effectiveness?” Catholics did not turn away from this question but in response spawned many movements within the Catholic Church that have provided a new surge of evangelical activity by Catholic men and women.

 Though there was a new surge in response to Pope Paul’s encyclical, being evangelical was not a new thing for Catholics. For instance, Bishop Sheen pioneered religious radio in 1950, speaking to more than 4 million listeners in the States and receiving in response as many as 6,000 letters a day, with one third of them coming from non-Catholics. He provided the first-ever religious telecast and his program, Life is Worth Living, reached approximately 30 million people each week. Bishop Sheen “had a deep passion for helping others find faith” and to see lives changed by Christ. He believed, “ ‘Conversion’ in Greek is metanoia, or a complete turning around from the direction which we are facing. . . . Conversion is an experience in no way related to the upsurge of the subconscious into consciousness; it is a gift of God, an invasion of a new Power, the inner penetration of our spirit by the Spirit and the turning over of a whole personality to Christ.”

 He traversed the world and had many fabulous, and some quite funny, personal encounters sharing Christ. Always warmly direct, he once was confronted by a young woman whose opening challenge was, “I am an atheist. What are you going to do about it?” He simply answered, “I’ll bet you a dime you cannot give me three good arguments for atheism; if you do, I will find three answers in a book that was written seven hundred years ago.” Well she couldn’t come up with three arguments and he spent the next year instructing her in the faith until she came to Christ.

 A more humorous and less successful encounter took place with some boys he met in Philadelphia. He asked the boys for directions to Town Hall. When the boys asked him what he was going to do there he explained that he was going to give a lecture.

 “On what?” they asked.

 “Boys, I’m going to talk on Heaven and how to get there. Would you like to come and find out how?”

 The boys replied incredulously, “You don’t even know the way to Town Hall.”

 Most of us will never be a Bishop Sheen, or a John Paul II, or a St. Ignatius, but we can still be, and we must be, evangelical Catholics. The world is a dark and dangerous place spiritually. On one hand, worldwide crises like terrorism, abortion, and the potential of nuclear proliferation capture people’s attention and raise their concerns. On the more personal level, lack of meaning and values in people’s lives are resulting in an increase of hedonism, drug addition, and materialism, which is destroying lives and society. Now more than ever before, the imperative to believe the Gospel, live the Gospel, and share the Gospel should grip our lives and give us purpose. “For it is only in the Christian message that modern man can find the answers to his questions.”

 The real oxymoron is the “non-evangelical Catholic,” since, “The presentation of the Gospel message is not an optional contribution for the Church [you and me]. It is the duty incumbent on her [us] by the command of the Lord Jesus, so that people can believe and be saved. This message is necessary. It is unique. It cannot be replaced. It does not permit either indifference, syncretism or accommodation. It is a question of people’s salvation.” The Catholic who is not evangelical about sharing his faith lives in contradiction to his baptismal vows and to his weekly reception and profession of Christ.Being an evangelical Catholic doesn’t necessarily involve going to foreign lands, or starting great movements. It simply involves representing Jesus with a smile, a word of encouragement, and talking about his message of hope in a joyful, loving, and warmly direct way. When we are faithful to do and be a person like this who reaches out to others, spanning the gulf of indifference and uncaring, we do in fact become an evangelical Catholic.

 Quote 1,3,4 come from Evangeiil Nuntiandi, Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI.

Quote 2  regarding Bishop Sheen are taken from, Treasures in Clay, by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.