Starting Evangelization

Last week, the men’s group listened to a video of Dr. Sri speaking to the Seek 25 Conference of young people.  And this morning we listened to a priest speaking to that same gathering.  Both were inspiring talks focused on evangelization of the Catholic faith.  Dr.  Sri’s talk ended with him speaking of Jesus’ last words to Peter: “Do you love Me?”  And three times Peter responded yes, but indicating how hard he found it to love as Jesus did, with a total “forgetting myself” love, or “agape” in Greek.  Peter knew that regardless of what he wanted to do, three times he had recently betrayed Jesus; he couldn’t love and totally forget himself.  This morning’s talk seemed to more focus on evangelizing as being like talking to a dear friend (which was the limit of Peter’s love, a “filia” love).  The video spoke of finding someone who has a private worry, like ours --- and we all have a private worry.  This was a way, the priest noted, to begin a friendship, and evangelization.  After we get to know each other, we can speak of how God is with us in our tough times.

In the men’s group discussion, after the video, we spoke about our own difficult times, but nothing private was spoken, until I spoke of caring for my mom who had dementia, and my reluctantly joining a caregiver’s group --- which I didn’t feel I needed.  And then I was a member and leader of that group for 15 years and still meet with some of those dear friends.  Then, one in the men’s group spoke of his caregiving stress --- which he had mentioned to no one.  And then one spoke of evangelization groups he was helping form.  The men this morning saw the benefit of growing with others, as needy friends, and evangelizing the faith.  It was a good men’s meeting.  And then …

I read my morning prayers at church.  In the Office of Readings was a talk by St. Augustine on St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and “letting Christ be formed in you.”  In Augustine’s words: “John says: He who remains in Christ should walk as He did” --- and love as He did, I wrote in the margin.  And then suddenly I recalled the men’s group videos and discussions on evangelization.  I gave a witness to how I had participated in a caregiver’s group, formed friends with a common interest, and then “walked as He did, with a love as He did.”  It made me wonder:  Did Jesus spread faith, religion ---- or love?  His one command was to “love as I have loved;” that is walking with Christ, not just talking about Him.  And THAT is evangelization.      

This morning the men’s group spoke positively about forming some groups, within our Catholic parish, but the support group I had mentioned was an example of the gathering of people with a common need --- period.  We didn’t limit the group to a parish or religion any more than Jesus didn’t limit His followers.  He loved those Gentiles, too.  That is a God Who loves all, with His all, His “agape” love.

Okay, like Peter we may find “agape” love beyond what we can do (up to now), but we can love others as friends, as Peter did (up to that point, before the Holy Spirit came upon him at Pentecost).  And we can begin to love that way by finding people who would want to talk to us, in private, on serious sufferings we share.  People in need, regardless of race, creed, or even age.  That is a way to start evangelization, of beginning to walk as He did.