Tell The Good News

Having now complete our series on Baptism In The Holy Spirit, which followed our Lenten series and prepared us for the celebration of Pentecost, I will begin  a new series, focused on Evangelization. 

In Mark's gospel account, Ch. 16: we have what is called, "the Great Commission". Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.  Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation". 

From its earliest beginnings, the Church has been called to this vocation of evangelization. As seen in this text from Mark it has two aspects;

1. Believe in your own heart.
2. Share your belief with others.

At first, this sharing of faith was directed to those who did not know Christ or his gospel; which continues to be its purpose today. The "New" evangelization has a different focus, it is directed to those who are already numbered among believers, but who have become disconnected from a living faith, a faith that influences their life, who may still attend worship occasionally, all be it, nominally. Studies in profiles of religious belief and practice in Europe and North America today, show a marked decline in all Christian churches.

Our focus this past Easter time, leading up to Pentecost, has been on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is first stage of evangelization, being able to say, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, "Jesus is Lord! I have been touched in my deepest being, by his love for me. I truly know him and desire to draw ever closer to him. Teach me Lord." It is on this foundation of a living, personal faith, that the second part of evangelization, called catechises, can begin to instruct us, unpack for us, the mysteries of our faith.

These two aspects of belief are inseparable. Both must coexist if one's faith is to be true faith. We will continue in these pages, to seek to deepen our experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or as it is also called today, "the Grace of Renewal", and to see how we can be evangelist of this beautiful grace for others.

Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:23-24