Talk Less, Smile More
Life has been so busy...God has been SO good...and I have been a slacker by not posting here in awhile! I'M BACK! :)
I think we are often intimidated by the word evangelization. What is it? What does it mean? How do we do it? Why does it matter? When I was first introduced to the word in high school, I immediately thought it meant shoving a Bible in someone’s face and saying “READ THIS AND LOVE IT!” However, believe it or not, that’s not what it means at all.
I recently had the privilege and honor to represent the Diocese of Joliet at the 2017 USCCB National Convocation in Orlando, FL. The theme of the Convocation was "The Joy of the Gospel in America," and it was centered around Pope Francis' encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium, which provides insights into what evangelization is and how to do it well. At the Convocation, "key leaders from dioceses and Catholic organizations from all across the country [gathered] in order to assess the challenges and opportunities of our time, particularly in the context of the Church in the United States."
It felt so amazing to be surrounded by these top Catholic leaders from all across the country and to witness the true beauty of Catholicism. In a society that constantly challenges my faith and forces me to occasionally question why I do what I do in ministry, this experience reminded me of how much work there is to be done in our world and the importance of it all: to bring each other closer to Christ.
There are two main themes that I took away from the Convocation: radical hospitality and relational ministry. Jesus hung out with anyone and everyone. He welcomed them with open arms and a warm smile and invited them to learn more about Him. Why don't WE do this to everyone we see and encounter?? We need to recognize that Christ is present in every single human being, as we are all made in the image and likeness of God, and we must always keep this in the forefront of our minds. We are called daily to live out virtues, such as faith, hope, charity, patience, humility, gentleness, gratitude, kindness, respect, understanding, and empathy.
If we are fully embracing and living by these virtues, I guarantee that we will think twice if we ever find ourselves judging others or intentionally ignoring individuals in need because it is inconvenient for us or a really difficult thing to do. We must form relationships with one another and LISTEN. Everyone has a story and previous experiences to share, but we must take the time to authentically listen. If we all took more time to be fully present to one another, our world would be transformed. Now, I'm not saying that we have to be best friends with one another, as I'm sure Jesus would not consider himself to be best friends with the Pharisees...but we ARE called to listen to one another and ask questions so that we can discover Truth together.
At the diocesan/parish/campus ministry level, evangelization is not just about organizing new programs and/or events, but instead, it’s about allowing the Spirit to move in us and in our community. It’s about our hearts becoming on fire with Christ’s love and wanting to share that with everyone we encounter. It’s about truly living a Christ-like life by loving God, loving our neighbors, and serving others not just once a week at Mass but everyday and in every experience. In his encyclical, Pope Francis reminds us that “goodness always tends to spread….[therefore] if we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good” (Evangelii Gaudium, 9).
I challenge those of you reading this to follow Pope Francis’ words and seek the good in others with whom you encounter in your daily lives. It doesn't take much to spread love to one another, so start with small random acts of kindness. After all, Mother Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta) said it best when she reminded us that "not all of us are called to great things, but we can do small things with great love." Also, don't do it for the recognition or gratitude, but do it because it is what we are called to do as Christians. In the spirit of my favorite Broadway musical, Hamilton, we must "talk less, smile more" in order to spread Christ’s love to the world because between you and me, I think everyone could use a little more love in their lives. So go out and love, be joyful, listen, ask questions, and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest!
Check out some of the videos from the USCCB Convocation HERE
#CatholicConvo
