Urgency of Evangelization
Evangelization is urgent! One of the things that disturbs me most in my own life is the countless distractions from what is most important, and figuring out how to continue to live life in the Holy Spirit, allowing distractions to be a means of sanctification by doing whatever needs to be done as an offering to the Lord. At times, I think, wouldn’t I be better off living a different life where I worked a job to make money to pay the bills, and then focused on simply being out ministering to people and evangelizing the rest of the time? And I’m a priest…
Well, a conversation involves two sides, and that was my side of the story. The Lord has the other side, and I’m grateful He’s merciful. I feel Him challenging me to find ways to let evangelization seep into everyday life – every phone call, interaction with the neighbors, and meetings, and not just in consecrated mission time. When I think about how it seems that a vast swath of humanity is indifferent to Jesus, faith, and a life of devotion that is truly life-giving, it’s disturbing and saddening. This drives my sense of the urgency of evangelization.
Now, I’ll visit the dumps, but I’m not about to stay there. It’s a reality-check and an encouragement that the world around me needs what I’ve got, and I’ve got a need to give it as best as I can because that’s how the Lord living in me operates. He hasn’t stopped the rescue mission, and he hasn’t stopped preparing places in the Father’s house. But on the other hand, no matter how man has tried to manipulate it, the road to salvation hasn’t gotten mysteriously wider; and yes, hell is still real.
The reality of death and judgment reminds us of the urgency of evangelization. For this reason, funerals are a very good time to talk about faith, in appropriate ways of course and with sensitivity. Whatever the occasion and motivation, it’s good to remember that we don’t know the impact that this effort is going to have on the person – whether we know about it or not, our proclamation and invitation might be what leads someone into a relationship with Jesus.