Evangelization is a word we often hear today in the church. We are called to evangelize. The word “evangelization” comes from the Greek word for Gospel (Greek: euangelion, Latin: evangelium). In today’s Gospel Jesus sends the apostles out to evangelize, to proclaim the Gospel: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Jesus instructs the disciples not only to preach the Gospel in words but also in deeds, “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons…As you enter a house, wish it peace.”
The mission charge given to these first apostles is to continue the mission of Jesus. Evangelization is continuing the work of Jesus, welcoming outcasts and sinners, curing the sick, helping people to experience God’s love and mercy, and challenging people to put God’s will before all.
Through our baptism you and I are called to be evangelists. In baptism we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and receive the light of Christ. We evangelize by bringing that light into the world in our daily life. We preach the Gospel, sometimes with words, but most of all by how we treat others, by what we say and do. Jesus reminds us of our baptismal mission in the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world…Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14, 16). So, it is our good deeds of compassion and love that draw people to God and inspire people to give glory and praise to God. Our baptismal commitment to evangelize means we first need to know the Gospel. Take some time each day to read a passage of the Gospel. See yourself in the Gospel as Jesus is addressing not only the first disciples but he is also personally addressing you: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ cure the sick…As you enter a house, wish it peace.”
Image: “Gospel Book Fragment, 1477” by hyperion327 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.