WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM
A Happy 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time to you. How was your week? Did you experience the Lord’s guidance & help in the week? What were some recent instances when you felt stressed or in difficulties, & the Lord gave you strength & grace when you called on Him? Did you feel that you are “more than a conqueror with Jesus” the last week (based on last Sunday’s reflection)?
This Sunday’s readings show us the great love that God has for us all, by gathering us as One People to Himself. The 1st Reading from Isaiah 66:18-21 reminded the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon that the Lord would gather all peoples to His holy mountain in Jerusalem. What about us? Is this relevant today? Indeed, it is – for the Lord will bring all people who are scattered, separated, isolated, distant & disunited from each other to the new Mount Zion, the CHURCH.
The Gospel today from Luke 13:22-30 shows Jesus & his disciples teaching throughout all the towns & cities, preaching the Good News, healing the sick & inviting all to gather, as a people who are saved, into God’s kingdom. The warning, though, is that not all will be able to enter into salvation. Just because they (& all of us) have called out to Jesus occasionally, have heard of Him & even spent some time in His company, doesn’t guarantee admission. No, we must all enter through the narrow gate (cf Luke 13:24) – the gate of faith & belief in Jesus. We must, as St Paul declares on Romans 10:9, ‘profess with our lips that Jesus Christ is Lord & believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead’ to be made righteous & saved. This is what is really required from us; and so we must continually remain committed & faithful to Christ.
How, then can people receive the call to join in & be gathered to the Lord? Think about your faith. Perhaps it was your parents who brought you into the Catholic faith & led you to the precious gift of Baptism. Or perhaps it was a family member or relative, friend, classmate or work colleague who introduced you to Jesus. Or perhaps you attended a wedding or funeral service, concert, healing rally, Alpha program or online prayer service & were touched by the Holy Spirit to explore the faith. Whatever your way, the common thread is some person reached out to you; that someone, as Isaiah 66:19 says, ‘proclaim(ed) my (his) glory to the nations’ & you believed.
Our response in the Responsorial Psalm today (from Mark 16:15) gives us the command: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News.” And just as we have benefitted from this proclamation to us before we became believers of Jesus, so we too are compelled to proclaim this wonderful message of the Gospel. What should we proclaim? God loves you! He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to save you! Jesus Christ is Risen & He is Lord! Repent, believe in Jesus, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit & enter into eternal life!
I recently (during Eastertide this year) gave a talk to the Risen Christ Church Charismatic Group on this topic & would like to share some of the key points below:
The Importance of Proclamation & Evangelization
Ø The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. (Evangelii Gaudium 1)
Ø Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others. As it expands, goodness takes root and develops. If we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good. (Evangelii Gaudium 9)
The Avenues for Proclamation & Evangelization
Ø Formal & Structured
o RCIA – Catechumenate & Mystagoga.
o Catechism Classes for Children & Teens.
Ø Liturgical Life of Church
o Daily Eucharistic Celebrations.
o Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism & Confirmation.
o Sacrament of Reconciliation.
o Weddings & Funerals.
Ø Informal – Small Group or Individual
o NCC / Cell-Group Gatherings.
o Group Charismatic / Rosary / Divine Mercy Prayer Time.
o Hospital Visits.
o Funeral Wakes.
o Social Interaction with Family & Friends.
o Interaction at Work / Market Place.
Resistances & Obstacles to Evangelization
Ø “I” Problem
o “I’m not holy enough!”
o “I’m too old / too young!”
o “I’m not good enough!”
o “I don’t know how to talk to people!”
o “I don’t know my Bible well enough!”
o “I’m afraid if people get angry with & reject me!”
o “I’m too busy!”
Ø The Real Issue:
o Making Excuses.
o Lazy.
o Stuck in Comfort Zone.
o “False” Humility.
o Resistance to Change.
o Fearful & Anxious.
o Poor Self Image & Lack of Confidence.
A Mindset Change is Required!
Ø God does not call the Qualified; He qualifies the Called!
Ø I am Gifted & Blessed by God.
Ø God Needs me to Use the Gifts He has Given me to Serve People who are Hurting and Lost.
What is Needed for Evangelization?
Ø Attitude of Love & Zeal for God.
o Natural Disposition of Rejoicing, Exulting and Being Grateful to God.
o Desire to Know & Seek God & Make Him Known.
o Drive to Do & Give Your Best for God.
o Desire to Love & Serve Others as Authentic & Tangible Signs of Loving God.
Ø Growth in Holiness & Christian Maturity
o Scripture & Word of God.
o Personal Prayer.
o Strong Sacramental Life.
o Study – Scripture, Church Documents, CCC.
o Agent of Unity & Peace in Community.
o Openness to Charisms & Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Evangelization in Action
Ø Living an Authentic Catholic Christian Life All The Time (Not Just Sundays or Other “Holy” Times).
Ø Serving Others in Need.
o Adopting a stronger “Others-Centred” Orientation.
o Exercising Charisms to help others.
o Do Tangible Acts of Mercy & Love.
Ø Preach the Gospel in Daily Interactions.
o Speak to Others about God’s Love, Forgiveness & Compassion.
o Pray Along With Them, besides praying for them.
o Give Your Personal Testimony.
o Just Love Them, Be Present & Be There for Them.
Sounds like we’ve got a lot of work to do in proclaiming Jesus to everyone. It doesn’t sound like an easy task – but then, that’s what walking through the narrow gate demands. The persons who had reached out to you in the past had taken the effort & done so, because they love you & care for you; they wanted to share with you the treasure they had found in their relationship with Jesus as Lord, they also love Jesus so much that they just wanted to make Him known. Will you do the same & proclaim Jesus & gather more people into His kingdom?
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Team Lead