Yes, Catholics are called to be evangelical.

09-13-2015Weekly ReflectionFr. Chauncey Winkler

Dear Parishioners,

The Church (that’s you) is called by Jesus Christ to evangelize the whole world. This includes every nation on earth. It also includes our own town, neighborhood, and family, people we see and know.

Two years ago, Pope Francis added his own voice to the preaching and teaching of a long line of popes calling all of us to boldly share the joy of connection, our own lives to the life of Jesus Christ the living Lord. This is the Good News to be shared. Indeed, how will people know unless we tell them? Pope Francis quotes Pope John Paul II to say “if the Church is to fulfill its providential destiny, evangelization as the joyful patient and progressive preaching of the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must be your absolute priority.” Wow! “Absolute priority”, those are strong words.

Yes, Catholics are called to be evangelical. Although there are protestant Christians who are labeled as “evangelical”, that characteristic is in no way exclusive to that group. It is, in fact, for all who call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior to share him. After all, Jesus came for everyone; no people, no person is to be overlooked. The people you know are no less important to Jesus than you are. And it is a tragic mistake for any of us to presume that the people we know will spontaneously look for Jesus if they want him, or that telling them is better done by someone else.

As many of you have heard, Will Graham (grandson of Billy Graham) is coming to Lake Havasu City in March of 2016. There are many evangelizers from non-Catholic backgrounds who call us to give our lives to Christ. While some of these are dismissive of Catholic teaching, (and a few even subtly anti-catholic), Bill Graham ministries is unique in his preaching. He presents Jesus Christ as simply the Savior calling us to repent and believe in Him. For this reason, I have chosen for us to be involved in this unique opportunity to learn more about evangelization, not just by talking about it, but by doing it step-by-step with a ministry that is unquestionably gifted to evangelize and to form Christians into evangelizers.

There are several significant differences in the beliefs of Catholic and non-Catholic Christians, these differences should not be regarded as unimportant. Indeed, much of the beauty of the faith given to us by the Apostles is distinctly Catholic. Nevertheless, despite these differences, we share in common a love for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the conviction that He is the only one who can save us. While we do not share the mass or all of the sacraments, we can and must share in prayer and evangelization.

I want to be very clear about our Catholic identity throughout our preparation for this event. This is the Catholic faith given to us by the Apostles; we cannot fail to hand it on. Also, I am convinced that it is right to work together with other baptized Christians in order to reach out with the transforming love and power of Jesus Christ. Today, we begin with a short video presentation. You may expect more from me as we draw closer and closer to March.

Blessings +
Father Chauncey

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