1. Jesus asked us to. We do so out of love and obedience to our Lord
who laid down his life for us. On the day of his ascension, in what became
known as “The Great Commission”, he told his assembled disciples “All power in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” This final command
before he returned to his Father in heaven urges us to go to our fellow man and
share the good news that Jesus is the Christ, God become man, who took the sins
of the world up with him on the cross, died for us, was raised to life and
ascended into heaven. He now shares His divine life with us through His church
and her sacraments till the day of His return in Glory. We will not be alone
when we approach our neighbors/family/friends/ strangers with this Good News,
for He told us – “And behold, I am with you always…”
2. Because we have become
convinced that we ourselves have been given a great gift that fills our
lives with joy. We want to share this Good News with our fellow man. Our life
is bathed in the infinite glow of Christ’s love for us which sustains us and
gives meaning to our existence. We know that God “…wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.” (1Tim 2:4). We desire to bring others
into that same light that illuminates our own lives. We are moved by compassion
for those in the shadows who do not know Him.
3. Everyone deserves a chance
to know Christ. In today’s society, we cannot assume that an individual has
heard the Good News in a positive manner from someone who has experienced Jesus
and has a relationship with Him. Because we know Him, we have a duty to share
Him with others so that they can decide whether they choose to follow Him or
not. This sacred duty should not be left up to Hollywood, the Internet, or the
nightly news. “We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to
us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every
man and woman….It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we
ourselves have received.” — Pope Benedict XVI -Verbum Domini
4. Because the need is great.
We are surrounded by people who are hungering, thirsting, and dying for the
Good News in their lives. They ask the questions that have been with man from
the beginning: Is there any sense, any meaning to life? Why am I here? Why is
there suffering? Does anyone care? Is there hope? Is this all there is? If we have the answer to their questions –
Jesus Christ – then to withhold the way, the truth and the life is unjust and
calls our own inaction into question.
That
person you’ve been thinking about who has drifted away from the faith needs
you. Be a disciple.
What Does the Bible Say?
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to
go out and bear fruit that will remain…”
— John 15:16
“So we are ambassadors for Christ”
— 2 Cor 5:20
Evangelizing Challenges This Week
1. Pick up a Catholic CD from the kiosk in the front of the church, the
narthex. Listen to it and then pass it on to someone. You will be sharing the
message of the Gospel when you do.
3. Explore a ministry. Find out about one of the more than fifty volunteer
ministries at Good Shepherd. By giving back of your time and talents, you are
also getting outside of yourself to move our parish and our faith into the work
of delivering the good news of salvation to the world. Talk to someone involved
in a volunteer ministry this week. Connect. Grow. Serve.
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