Introductory Story
A rather fiery female Pentecostal minister walked into the sacristy after Mass. There, she told the priest a story about how she was riding home on a train from a conference when she heard the Lord tell her, “I want you to visit the Catholic Church.” She got home and went that very night. As she explained that she felt inspired by the Mass, the priest believed he was hearing the Lord say, “Eucharist, Eucharist, Eucharist.” The priest was compelled to ask her, “do you know why the Lord brought you here tonight?” She was silent. “The Eucharist”, the priest continued. These words had a profound effect on the woman.
It turns out that this woman was Catholic as a child, but had long ago written off Catholicism. She had even written a manuscript for an unpublished book titled The Catholic Girl who found the True Church. Yet, with the two lightning bolts of the train and the Mass, the Lord Jesus pierced this woman’s heart and she left her nets behind. She repented, was given the grace to have a change of mind, fully embraced the Catholic faith she had left behind and was Confirmed at the Easter Vigil. She became passionate about the fullness of the Catholic faith into which Jesus had brought her and is now a very effective Catholic evangelist.
“So I Send You”
We read in Mark’s Gospel that when Jesus called James and John to be his disciples, “Jesus said to them, ‘Come after me’ and I will make you fishers of men.’ Then they left their nets and followed him.” Who on earth does that? Perhaps James and John had already been exposed to the absolutely mind-bending power of Jesus’s teaching, as this passage does take place in Mark’s Gospel after Jesus had begun to proclaim the Gospel of God, declaring “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). Had they already experienced something utterly different and amazing when Jesus was in their presence and spoke in a way like none had ever heard before? Perhaps the very voice of Jesus making an invitation in the power of his love pierced the hearts of James and John in a way that changed their lives.
However the Lord calls people, we know he calls! Whether it be through a magnificent moment that pierces a heart with the glorious overwhelming love of God in an instant, or whether it’s a journey that leads someone to finally drop their nets and follow him after experiencing the life-changing truth of the Gospel, the Lord calls! And how marvelous that the Lord Jesus has given us the tremendous gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to have his heart for the world around us. “As the Father sent me, so I send you,” the Lord Jesus tells us.
Evangelization is glorious! It’s the revelation of God’s love for souls as disciples step out in courage, led by love, to share the greatest love story ever: Jesus truly loves you and gave his life on the cross for you, so that your sins and every bit of darkness in your life could be healed and that you could know the joy of life in his presence … he did that, for you and me. Jesus sends us out to do (with him!) just as he did: proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and invite every single person we can share the Gospel with to respond to it!
“Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt 28:19)