How Can You Evangelize?

Do you ever get a post on social media that has to do with something religious or about Jesus and wonder if you pass it on will people judge you or feel it will not be well received?  Or you might think people will think you’re preachy or a holy roller whatever that is.  Then when you finally decide to post it, you get two “likes”, one from your Aunt and one from your grandmother.  Sometimes when I tell people that I work for the church, they have an awkward reaction then move on to the next subject.  The comedian Jim Gaffigan once opened one of his comedy routines by telling the audience… “I want to make you all feel as comfortable as possible so I’m going to start talking about Jesus”.   Of course this was met with much laughter but what is it about faith and talking about Jesus that makes people feel so uncomfortable?  Is it the time lapse?   People might say; this guy died over 2000 years ago and you’re still going on about him?  Well, yes quite frankly, because what we know from Jesus’ death and resurrection means everything.   It certainly meant everything to the apostles as we see in this weekends and last weekend’s readings. The apostles were going out and preaching and teaching and many times they were met with much resistance.  They weren’t just getting awkward stares or indifference.   They were sometimes under the threat of death and yet they still carried on.

“The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit” so ends the first reading from Acts where Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch in Pisidia.  Yes, nothing more than the Holy Spirit could inspire these guys to forge on with their difficult mission.  If you think about it, these men were tough.  They had to be.  They had to be confident about what they were teaching, they had to be compelling, they had to venture into territories and lands they had never been.  They had to speak in synagogues under the sometimes jealous eye of Jewish leaders who were not ready to hear or except Jesus’ words.  They were always being watched and under threat of death.  And yet each week we hear the same words about the apostles…that they had great “joy”.  They “rejoiced” the fact that they were “found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” that being Jesus.  Wow! I’m not so sure I would have this solid conviction.  Granted they had just witnessed great things that helped bolster their resolve.  They saw the risen Lord.  They knew the truth of what was to come.  Well for that matter so do I.  So I have to ask myself, do I have their determination when it comes to spreading the good word?  Do I have the courage and conviction to admit that I am a follower of Jesus?  Do you?  

What does it mean to evangelize today?  How do we avoid that awkwardness of being open about our faith?  Father Mike Schmitz of Ascension press says that “evangelizing doesn’t mean going door to door with religious flyers. It means being aware and looking for opportunities in everyday life to be witnesses of Christ’s love: listening to people’s concerns, offering tangible help, praying for others, and being open to conversations about spiritual matters.”  That sounds doable Fr. Mike!  Another simple thing to do is daily prayer. Fr. Mike also points out that “a lot of people easily slip into self-centered individualism (“just me and Jesus”), or they mindlessly go to Mass because it’s what is expected of them”  He further points out that  as “St. Paul says you’re a member of Christ’s body—you’re a member of the Church. Which doesn’t mean that you have a card and you’re a member [to a club]. No, you’re a physical member, like an arm or a leg. So the arm has to be healthy individually but connected to the head, Jesus. But it also realizes that it’s not the only member.” It’s important to have a dialogue with Jesus and ask for His guidance.  We ask God for so much and in we return we should ask Him where we are most needed.  What can we do today for our neighbors or for others?  Where can we be of most help today?  If we keep this prayerful dialogue going maybe the awkwardness of admitting to and showing our faith will fade. Maybe the messages will become clear, and maybe with the help of the Holy Spirit we can be joyful like the apostles in sharing our faith and our love of Jesus.

Reflection by Mary Juliano Hayes