The New Evangelization And Today’s Gospel
[simpleazon-image align=”Left” asin=”1612787738″ locale=”us” height=”375″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m5F%2BVPBdL.jpg” width=”258″]Within recent times we’ve been hearing a whole lot about the ‘New Evangelization. In fact, not long ago, Pope Benedict XVI set up a new pontifical council charged with the responsibility of promoting the New Evangelization; and in a few months from now – in October of this year – bishops from all over the world will gather in Rome to discuss how the Church is to take up the call to evangelize, taking the Good News – the Gospel of Jesus Christ – to all people.
Many have asked the question – more-so now that there is so much talk about the New Evangelization – many wonder what it is to evangelize. Who are the ones called to be evangelizers? Is it (in Trini parlance) ‘de priest an’ dem? Well in pondering on today’s gospel, we will find the answers to these questions. The gospel of today calls us to reflect on the New Evangelization and the active role that we all are called to play in establishing the Kingdom of God.
To evangelize is to bring the Good News to all we encounter. To evangelize is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all, by the way we live, the things we do, and by what we say. To evangelize is for each of us to become the Living Word of God. To evangelize means that the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ must become a major part of who we are. To evangelize is to invite, to challenge people to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and the light. We can evangelize in our homes, place of work, parishes, in fact, anywhere we go. St. Paul speaks of us as being ambassadors of Christ. When we the baptised people of God, allow ourselves to encounter the immeasurable Love of God made visible through Jesus Christ His Son, then we will literally become one with Christ and evangelizing will become second nature to us.
By virtue of our baptism, all of us are called to be active members of the New Evangelization. It is not just for the experts or those who exercise pastoral duties. Every lay-person is called to play their part in living the Gospel and in spreading and sharing the Good News, thus supporting bishops and priests in this most important mission of the Church.
Do not worry about what you are to say. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be given what you are to say, what you are to do, how you are to act; for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through you, working through you, acting through you.
With the words, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you,” Jesus encourages his disciples to be courageous and trusting in God in carrying our the call to evangelize. The words of Jesus should also echo in our hearts as we seek to live out the call to evangelize in a world that has become a very hostile place. Jesus is spoken to you and I as we seek to become active participants in the New Evangelization, giving us all the assurance that when we seek to do His will, when we seek to carry out His mission, we will never be alone. The Spirit of the Living God will always be with us.
Admittedly, there may be times when we may be a bit hesitant to speak about our faith, or when we may feel that we do not know enough about our faith to speak about it. We may doubt whether our words or deeds will bring about any change, or whether our Christian witness to the sacredness of life will make any difference at all. But the more we pray and ponder on today’s gospel, the more we will come to realize that Jesus is calling us to cast aside our fears and our doubts and to trust wholeheartedly in our Father’s love and care.
I would like to leave you with the words of one of my favourite songs – People Need The Lord. The second verse says,
We are called to take His light to a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost for sharing life with one whose lost
Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear
They must hear the words of Life, only we can share.
Today’s Gospel – Matthew 10:16-23
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;
so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.
But beware of men,
for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.
Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel
before the Son of Man comes.”
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