Have you ever been in a position to evangelize someone? Do you feel comfortable preaching the Gospel? This week, we will discuss how to evangelize and our mission as Catholic Christians. There is commentary following the 2nd Reading.
Reading II
1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.
Obligated to Preach
This week's readings (particularly the 2nd Reading and Gospel) remind us of our mission to preach the Gospel. This week's commentary shall focus on evangelizing or "preaching the gospel". Paul speaks of his "obligation" to preach the gospel in this week's second reading.
Now why does Paul feel "obligated" to preach the Gospel? Is it because he was knocked off of a horse and saw a vision of Jesus? Paul knew the mission of the Church as Jesus expressed it to his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20; "go therefore and make disciples of all nations". So Paul knows Jesus words and his command that every Christian (including you and me) is OBLIGATED to make disciples of all nations. 1st Timothy 2:4 says that God "wills everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." The truth is required in order to be saved. Truth is something that we must bring to others.
Now why does God want us to make disciples of all nations? Is it because we Catholics belong to a really cool social club and getting more members will make us feel less lonely? Of course not! THe Catechism paragraph 850 tells us that "The ultimate purpose of mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love." In other words, the reason why we should be preaching the gospel is to SHARE!
Any person who has come close to God experiences an incomparable love that is second to nothing/no one! Are we to enjoy that love and keep it to ourselves while others suffer miserably and perhaps even fall into the pit of hell? Of course not! This is the reason why we must preach the gospel. We are meant to share the love with which God has loved us.
Why We Don't Preach the Gospel
A very common reason why we are not preaching the gospel today is that we are afraid. We are afraid that we might upset someone. In fear, I might think "maybe that person won't like me anymore if I make them feel bad or guilty." Well, which is more important, that a soul enter heaven, or for someone to like me? How terribly proud I am that I think being likable is more important than someone's salvation and God's command to share his love with others! Nothing is more important than doing the will of God, not even winning more friends.
In addition to pride and fear, we don't preach the Gospel enough because we sin too much. For instance, how can I possibly share the chastity and purity of Christ with someone when I am in a sexual relationship with my girfriend? How can I speak of God's trustworthiness when I tell lies everday (we incorrectly call them "white" lies)? It is IMPOSSIBLE to preach the gospel effectively while living in mortal sin. It's like trying to give a serious speech while in your underwear. It doesn't work! Let's remember that sin distorts our view of reality, of each other, and of God. Therefore, we cannot preach the Gospel without following God's commandments.
How to Preach the Gospel
Many people fear "preaching the Gospel" because they are not eloquent speakers or they lack scriptural and Catechetical knowledge. It's true that we need to learn more about our faith by reading scripture and Catechism. But we needn't speak at all in order to preach the Gospel. Is it possible to end a relationship with someone without speaking? Of course it is. I could end my relationship with my best friend without a word by stealing from him! I could end my marriage without a word by cheating on my wife. Just the same, I can love and bring people closer to God without a single word. This chart show the effects of loving actions versus sinful actions.
As you can see in this chart, we must obey the commandment of God, which is to love God and each other. Loving God and one another involves ACTION. If we obey God and live as he wishes, we will experience his love, and come to know him. Only then can we share him with others through our actions which will inevitably lead to the salvation of souls. We can also see here that it is impossible to preach the gospel while intentionally committing serious sin.
Practical Tips on Preaching With Words
* stop talking- listening carefully and completely is a way to love people. The desire to speak often stems from pride (I want to prove/explain MYSELF). Saintly people are ALWAYS good listeners because they don't have the desire to be heard, they only have the desire to love
* read the Bible daily and read the Catechism as much as possible
* remember who you are talking to- some people are starving and ready for God. They ask lots of questions. You should answer as many as possible. Other people are very opposed to God, so listening and loving might be the best form of preaching at these times
* pray for at least 30 minutes a day- prayer brings peace and detachment from the world. Often times, we sin because we are attached to things or pleasures. In prayer, we experience the love of God and we experience detachment from the world. We are better preachers when we better pray-ers.
*slow down or stop if you get angry- remember that "the ultimate purpose of mission is none other than to make men share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of LOVE." It's hard to LOVE when you are angry- so it might be best to take a timeout if you are angry.
In conclusion, we must remember that it is our duty and our command from God to evangelize.
* We musn't let fear of rejection stop us from sharing the Gospel of truth.
* The less we sin, the better evangelizers we will become. We cannot preach effectively while committing serious sins
* We must become better listeners
* We should pray for at least 30 minutes and read the bible every day. We should read the Catechism regularly
God loves us!
Reading 1
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7
Job spoke, saying:
Is not man's life on earth a drudgery?
Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade,
a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery,
and troubled nights have been allotted to me.
If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?"
then the night drags on;
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind;
I shall not see happiness again.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
Alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
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