The duty to evangelize

WE have to be more aware and more willing to carry out our Christian duty to evangelize, to go out into the whole world, preaching the Good News, and baptizing people, as Christ himself clearly told his disciples. (cfr. Mk 16,15)

Christ, of course, gave us the proper example to follow. In the gospel, it is said that “Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities…” (Lk 8,1-2)

It’s good that the Pope recently made another push for a more effective evangelization all over the world. And it is also worth noting that a group is doing the same push, encouraging the parishes to be more missional and not just stuck in the maintenance aspect of parish life.

Of course, we should never forget that the energy and success we can expect in our evangelization and missionary efforts can only come about if we are truly animated by the spirit of Christ. Otherwise, everything would just be a show. Our apostolic zeal can only be an expression and a consequence of a vibrant and healthy spiritual life.

Let’s remember that while evangelization and mission work urges us to reach out, to break new grounds, to spread the Good News as widely as possible, we should be more interested in how to keep the integral Christian life going. We should not be interested only in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, but more in how the spirit of Christ is lived consistently and abidingly.

As one saint put it, while conversion is a matter of a moment, sanctification is a matter of a lifetime. There has to be the appropriate mechanisms and structures to facilitate the continuing accompaniment of those evangelized.

We should never forget that sanctification is and should be our main business in this life, our constant concern all throughout. And that’s simply because at the end of the day, at the end of our life, that is what truly matters. Everything else is meant only as a means, an occasion or a reason for pursuing this ultimate goal of ours.

St. Paul said it clearly: “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thes 4,3) St. Peter echoed the same sentiment: “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Pt 1,15-16)

Christ, of course, repeatedly told us about this. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5,48) And this ideal can be attained, not only after our death, but even now, as we cruise through this vale of tears of ours, because Christ does it with us and for us.

Christ has given us all the means. In fact, he has given us his very own self, because we can only be truly holy when we become entirely “alter Christus” (another Christ), if not “ipse Christus” (Christ himself).

We have to realize that all the situations of our life here on earth, including those that involve our miseries, failures and sin, can be and should be a means and occasion for sanctification if they are referred to Christ. And that’s because Christ precisely would show us how to convert everything into a means of our sanctification.

In our evangelization and mission work, this truth of our faith should be made clear.