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HIS Servant
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 EVANGELIZATION
- By Bro. Pete Lapid
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Evangelization n. from the Greek
good news/message, evangelization is to live, celebrate and share the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good News that God loves us.
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Many of us Catholics fear the “E” word. Whenever we see a
priest or a religious talk about Jesus or anything from the Bible, we
are not surprised at all. It’s like, it’s their job or something! Or
it’s just natural for them! But when we hear an ordinary person talk
about Jesus or about his faith, we think he’s “crazy” or a fanatic.
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I used to be like that. I used to think like that…until I
learned… until I had my humbling “E” experience.
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I thought it was peanuts. All I needed to do was to give
away a free copy of Kerygma (the #1 inspirational magazine in the
Philippines) to some of the passengers waiting at the airport lounge on
my way back to Jakarta. A couple of them accepted. But there was this
one decent looking gentleman whom I saw reading a magazine. I thought he
loved reading and so I offered him a copy of Kerygma. He said, “No.” I
tried again the second time and told him it was free. Again he said,
“No, I’m not interested.”
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I felt my whole face turn red! I felt humiliated and
embarrassed. And I was mad, really mad and angry…at myself. Then I
heard the Lord speak to my heart and said, “Why are you feeling so mad?
Why are you so angry? It is not you whom he is rejecting; he is
rejecting Me! Your job is to let people know about Me.” Ouch!
Okay, Lord I understand.
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That experience did not discourage me. Because I believe
that it is the job of every baptized Catholic to let people know about
our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Let me encourage you thru these simple descriptions --
about what evangelism is not and what evangelism is – which I have
recently learned from CASE, a Catholic agency which helps and equips
families, parishes, schools or organizations in evangelizing people.
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- Evangelization is not:
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- About cramming the Bible down people’s throat.
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- About always using words.
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- About forcing people to be baptized.
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- About never mentioning the name of Jesus.
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- Is never detached from a life of prayer.
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- Solely about doing social work.
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- About sharing our own interpretation of what
the Good News is.
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- An option for the baptized.
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- Evangelization is:
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- My duty and joy to do as a baptized Catholic.
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- Something Jesus commissioned all His
followers to do.
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- About love and service.
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- Demands courage on the part of the
evangelizer.
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- Is never done alone. The Holy Spirit is always
there to help you. Even Jesus sent out His disciples two by two.
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That is why, Brothers & Sisters, we must thank the
apostles and all the succeeding generations of disciples after them
for responding to the call of Jesus to go out and spread the Good News,
to evangelize. For otherwise, how could we have known Jesus. But what
about the generations after us, will they too thank us in return?
That, my Brothers & Sisters in Christ, will depend on us, on you, on
what you will do... after reading this article.
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God bless you!
- TELL US LIKE IT IS!
- Has
something wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did God
answer your prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like Isaiah, meet
God’s whisper?
- Have you felt His
powerful hand working in your life recently?
- Everyday, people
are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their lives and it is a pity that
very few know about it. Do you have a story to tell? Some Good News to
share?
- E-mail us (genesis@catholic.org) or fax us
(021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You don’t have to be
a great writer to do this. We can help you write it – just tell us like
it is!
- Don’t forget to
write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”
Please take a
moment to sign our guestbook.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
The Living Spirit
By Fr. Martinus S., PR
Community Life ~ Here's the Latest
By Pinky Torres
Genesis Chronicles
By Loren Sanchez
G* Kidspace
By Tintin Magbitang
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
God Answers Prayers
By Beth Manibog
enesis Mailbox
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
Source: Catholic Online
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