| Evangelization |
 What is Evangelization?Evangelization is the response to Jesus’ call to go out and make disciples of all nations. It is the proclamation of the Gospel in such a way that it changes a person, completely –heart, mind and actions. Evangelization starts with the individual. But, it does not end there. True evangelization has as its goal a complete reordering of society – to make it a better reflection of the Kingdom!  Why do we evangelize?The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission and deepest identity of the Church. In fact, the Church exists in order to evangelize. (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). Remember, the command of our Lord: “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” (Mt.28:19-20 ).
First, we evangelize through the example of our lives. It is through our love that we bear the light of Christ to our neighbor. St. Paul reminds us that in the absence of love, even if we were to speak with the eloquence of angels we would not be effective. Rather, our words would be like “noisy gongs.” Second, we evangelize by proclaiming the “Kerygma.” The Kerygma is the proclamation of the Good News of Salvation as a free gift gained through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It must be proclaimed in a way that invites the hearer to take action – to accept and embrace the Good News and to be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit. True Evangelizationis always Christ-centered. “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promise, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 22) |
