FRJOELTHOMPSONSJ
Easter is a wonderful time to rediscover and remember who we are as Church. The Risen Lord sends his disciples into the world, and in doing so reveals that the Church does not have a mission; she is mission (CCC 850).
This is the great commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). The Church exists to evangelize.
What We Believe
Key Beliefs:
The Church is missionary by her very nature
Evangelization is the identity of every Christian We are sent by Christ himself to continue his mission
Related Scripture:
Matthew 28:19–20
Mark 16:15
Luke 4:18
John 20:21
What We Believe
Evangelization is not an optional activity for a few; it is the deepest identity of every baptized Christian.
The opposite of mission is maintenance. Maintenance focuses inward: preserving structures, celebrating sacraments routinely, and keeping things going. These are important, but they are not enough. A Church that only maintains risks becoming closed in on itself and slowly diminishing. Pope Francis warned against parishes “becoming useless structures out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.” (Evangelii Gaudium/The Joy of the Gospel #27).
Mission, on the other hand, is outward-looking. It is the Church that “goes forth,” and encounters people where they are. Does your parish only gather on Sundays for worship? Are your notices are mainly about fund raising and building maintenance? If so, this points towards maintenance. Does your parish routinely visit the sick, elderly, prisoners etc.? Engage social issues? Does it engage young people, and regularly invite those of little faith or none to gatherings? If so, this points towards mission.
Our missionary identity flows directly from Jesus. He is the first and greatest evangelizer. His mission was to proclaim the Kingdom of God (see Luke 4:18).
Before ascending, he entrusted this same mission to us “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel” (Mark 16:15). Even the final words of the Mass, “Go forth”, remind us that we are sent on mission.
Why It Matters
We do not evangelize simply because we are commanded to do so. We evangelize because we have encountered something so beautiful that we cannot keep it to ourselves! Anyone who has discovered something beautiful immediately wants to share it with another
The heart of evangelization is love. As Evangelii Gaudium beautifully expresses: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day…” (EG #164)
This is the “first proclamation” and that must be heard again and again. Catechists and those who teach must always bear in mind that every lesson should flow from this fundamental proclamation.
Evangelization begins with witness → Proclamation → Sacramental Life → Mission
It often begins quietly, with the silent witness of a Christian life lived in faith. It continues through explicit proclamation (teaching). It deepens through participation in the sacraments. And it reaches fulfillment when the evangelized become evangelizers.
Importantly, this mission belongs to everyone. Evangelization is not only for priests and religious. Every baptized person has a role.
Living Mission:
Attend to your relationship with Christ Witness through joy, beauty, justice, and mercy
Reflection Questions:
Am I living a faith of maintenance or mission?
Do others encounter joy and mercy through me?
How can I share the simple message: “Jesus Christ loves you”?
How do we move from maintenance to mission in our daily lives?
First, we begin where we are. Self → Family → Parish → Community → World
We cannot give what we do not have. Mission begins with a personal relationship with Christ. From there, it flows into our families, our parish life, and beyond.
Second, we embrace the essential qualities of evangelization: joy, beauty, and justice (with mercy and tenderness).
Joy attracts. A joyful Christian is the most convincing witness to the Gospel.
Beauty reveals God. Whether in liturgy, music, or acts of love, beauty opens hearts.
Justice and mercy make the Gospel concrete. To serve the poor, accompany the wounded, and stand for what is right is to proclaim Christ with our lives.
In Conclusion
Evangelization is about accompaniment. We are called to walk with others in their joys and sorrows. A missionary Church is one that listens, welcomes, and walks alongside people even in their brokenness. May this Easter be a time of sharing our faith and joy with those we encounter
