In the Gospel today there is a beautiful conversation between Jesus Christ and God the Father. Jesus is the perfect evangelist, stating that he has revealed the name of God to all people. It is no mistake that the First Reading also shows Paul explaining all the steps he has taken to bring people into the life of the Gospel. Both Paul and Jesus know that their hour has come and that they will be put to death for the things they have preached, but they move forward steadfastly to accomplish their mission.
Many of us are probably not called to be martyrs for the Lord, but these two texts of Scripture highlight the importance of evangelization, modeling how to do it and giving reasons why we have a responsibility to preach the good news to all. This might be a little scary or overwhelming for those of us who do not feel as worthy as a Paul or Jesus to preach the Gospel, but the Catechism is clear that all men should be willing to give the reason for the joy that they have in Christ.
More than just giving us a missionary mandate, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 6) outlines three ways we can bring the Gospel to all people. “The initial proclamation of the Gospel or missionary preaching to arouse faith; examination of the reasons for belief; experience of Christian living; celebration of the sacraments; integration into the ecclesial community; and apostolic and missionary witness.”
It may seem daunting to try to articulate all of these principles, but the reality is that all of us have been given specific gifts that will lend themselves to one of these specific areas. Some have been blessed with a higher knowledge of spiritual truths, others have been blessed with the gift of hospitality to help serve their fellow man, and still others have a deep prayer life that you can always count on when you need someone to speak to God on your behalf. Maybe during this Easter season we can ask the Lord what gifts he has given us and how specifically he is calling us to preach the Gospel.
All of us are called to give a reason for the hope within us. God wants you to be a part of his glorious plan to save all men. All we have to do is pray, trust in the gifts we have been given, and take courage from the grace the Lord gives us. As St. John Paul II said so many times during his pontificate, “Be not afraid”. God believes in you. Trust that God hasn’t made a mistake. You can be an incredible witness to the Gospel!
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
En el Evangelio de hoy hay una hermosa conversación entre Jesucristo y Dios Padre. Jesús es el evangelista perfecto, afirmando que ha revelado el nombre de Dios a todas las personas. No es un error que la Primera Lectura también muestra a Pablo explicando todos los pasos que ha dado para llevar a las personas a la vida del Evangelio. Tanto Pablo como Jesús saben que ha llegado su hora y que serán condenados a muerte por las cosas que han predicado, pero avanzan con firmeza para cumplir su misión.
Muchos de nosotros probablemente no estamos llamados a ser mártires por el Señor, pero estos dos textos de la Escritura resaltan la importancia de la evangelización, dan un modelo de cómo hacerlo y razones por las que tenemos la responsabilidad de predicar las buenas nuevas a todos. Esto puede ser un poco aterrador o abrumador para aquellos de nosotros que no nos sentimos tan dignos como Pablo o Jesús para predicar el Evangelio, pero el Catecismo es claro en que todos los hombres deben estar dispuestos a dar la razón de la alegría que tienen en Cristo.
Más que simplemente darnos un mandato misionero, el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica (párrafo 6) describe tres formas en que podemos llevar el Evangelio a todas las personas. “[El] primer anuncio del Evangelio o predicación misionera para suscitar la fe; búsqueda de razones para creer; experiencia de vida cristiana: celebración de los sacramentos; integración en la comunidad eclesial; testimonio apostólico y misionero “.
Puede parecer desalentador tratar de articular todos estos principios, pero la realidad es que a todos se nos han dado dones específicos que se prestarán a una de estas áreas específicas. Algunos han sido bendecidos con un mayor conocimiento de las verdades espirituales, otros han sido bendecidos con el don de la hospitalidad para ayudar a servir a sus prójimos, y otros tienen una vida de oración profunda con la que siempre puedes contar cuando necesitas a alguien para hablar con Dios a nombre tuyo. Tal vez durante este tiempo de Pascua podamos preguntarle al Señor cuáles dones nos ha dado y cómo específicamente nos está llamando a predicar el Evangelio.
Todos estamos llamados a dar razón de la esperanza que hay en nosotros. Dios quiere que seas parte de su glorioso plan para salvar a todos los hombres. Todo lo que tenemos que hacer es orar, confiar en los dones que se nos han dado y tomar valor de la gracia que el Señor nos da. Como dijo San Juan Pablo II tantas veces durante su pontificado, “No teman”. Dios cree en ti. Confía en que Dios no se ha equivocado. ¡Puedes ser un testigo increíble del Evangelio!
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Mitchell Leach, unsplash.com/photos/71ez8NZF19s
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