A Word on Evangelization

4th Sunday of Lent, March 30, 2025

Deacon Mike Meyer

“Called by Baptism”

    The Sacrament of Baptism is a powerful experience for both those receiving Baptism and the ministers of the sacrament. We are welcoming a new person into the Church! We are letting the Holy Spirit wash away Original Sin.

    Another powerful part of the sacrament is anointing the child (or adult) with sacred Chrism to be “priest, prophet, and king.” This oil is also used in Confirmation and Holy Orders. What does this mean? It means that from the very beginning, we are called to be evangelists! There are three profound chapters in Scripture where Jesus calls us to evangelization: Acts 1, Matthew 28, and Mark 16. The scene in each case is Jesus, ready to ascend into heaven. He is giving His disciples, and us, last-minute instructions, the most important things for us to do when Jesus is not with us.

    When we go away on vacation or a trip, we give instructions to someone who will watch over our place, animals, etc. We are very specific. Jesus was giving His final instructions and was very clear about what He wanted us to do:  Matthew 28:19 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

    The word Gospel means "good news"!  What is the good news of Jesus Christ? If we were to ask 100 Catholics to define the “good news” of Jesus Christ, what would we hear?  In my experience, most do not know or even remotely understand the enormity of what God has done for us. This well-known verse from John’s Gospel is a good place to begin:  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

    We have been chosen to deliver this message to the world, starting with those people whom God has put in our lives: our family, spouse, children, grandchildren, friends and co-workers, those we encounter in business, school, life situations, etc. Everyone!  We are the evangelists called by Baptism.  Lent is an especially good time to ask ourselves, “When was the last time I made an effort to evangelize and share the good news of Jesus with someone that I encountered in my everyday life?”  “Who may God be calling me to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel, so that I need to hear it and experience God’s grace.”  When we prayerfully answer God’s call to evangelize we witness Jesus’ transformative power and amazing things happen.  That’s why we call it amazing grace!  There is so much to be done and Jesus is calling us to participate!  Will we say “Yes” to God and do our part?