Evangelize

Make Evangelization a Habit by Vaughn Kohler

Do you have to wear a black hood to evangelize the world? Certainly not. Although the Rule of St. Benedict is meant to guide the daily life of a community of monks, the principles can be applied vibrantly and effectively outside the walls of a place like St. Benedict’s Abbey. You may not wear a habit, but you can make evangelization a habit.

Everybody knows that one of the core Benedictine values is hospitality. If you want to create an opportunity to share the love of Christ, host a dinner party.

But here’s the catch: Don’t just invite people you know and love. Invite people who are new to your neighborhood or community, or even someone with whom you’ve had tension or a disagreement. At Mass we pray, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.” Though we are sinners, Jesus Christ is willing to dine with us, and the food that we eat is his own flesh and blood, given for our salvation. We should demonstrate the same kind of charity to others. As we eat, drink, and talk with our guests, we can show them the warmth and compassion of our Lord, “welcoming all guests as Christ himself” (RB 53:1). Your home can be a place of love, your dinner table a tool for evangelization. Invite people to dine with you; maybe some of them will eventually dine at the Lord’s Table, too. A wise man once told me, “Some people will reject Christianity. But make sure it is not because you act like an inconsiderate jerk.” There are many reasons why someone may not have interest in Christ or the Catholic faith. Hopefully, though, it is not because of our poor social skills. In the Rule, St. Benedict counsels strong reproof for the monk who, in being late to daily prayers, inconveniences the other monks and disrupts the flow of the day (RB 43:4). There are other examples of how one monk’s actions affect the whole community. Even though we do not live in as close a proximity as a monk does to his confreres, our actions affect other people. Seek to be sensitive to the needs and desires of other people. Don’t do anything that will inconvenience them or unnecessarily cause them grief or pain. The simplest way to know if you’ve offended someone? Ask them.

If you are a likeable person who is considerate of others, people will be drawn to you—and perhaps to Christ and his Church.

5ways to evangelize like a Benedictine monk: 1

Host a Dinner Party 2

Perfect the Art of Being Considerate

The Sacred Scriptures talk a lot about being “disciples.” The word disciple actually means “learner.” Benedictines have always valued learning. In the early years, St. Benedict expected his monks to spend two, three, even four hours a day reading. “From the start,” wrote Father Hilary Thimmesh, OSB, “Benedictine life required a certain level of disciplined intellectual activity.” Monks aren’t the only people who are asked to love God with their minds, however; that call extends to us as well.

If we take time to learn things about God and his world, we become interesting, compelling, and informed human beings. While we may not be able to answer everyone’s questions about God and faith, we can share some food for thought, which may help other people navigate some of the tricky, scary questions in life.

Also, there are a lot of people who are looking for mentors. You don’t necessarily have to teach Sacred Scripture or the Rule. You could teach someone how to bake, play tennis, or run a computer program. When a teacherstudent relationship is formed, you can exercise great influence. When a person feels like you have invested in his life by teaching him something, that is very meaningful! Hopefully, that relationship will inspire others to put their faith in the greatest rabbi— teacher—Jesus Christ. The Benedictine motto is Ora et Labora—pray and work. Benedictines have always recognized that life should be balanced. It is important to get down on our knees to ask for God’s blessings. It is also important to get out and tend to a crop, paint a fence, or build a shed. Hard work— manual labor—is holy to the Lord. Yet it is especially holy when we perform it for the benefit of others. The Rule states: “service increases rewards and fosters love” (RB 35:1).

Manual labor can even serve as a way to reconcile with others. Years ago, I read about a Christian singer named Rich Mullins who was very unique in the way that he reconciled with others. On one occasion, Rich and his manager had a sharp disagreement. Rich apologized—but he went beyond that. Knowing that his manager hated doing yard work, Rich decided to do him a favor. That weekend, his manager looked out his front window to see Rich mowing his lawn!

When we perform works of manual labor for others, we put ourselves in the position of a servant. That humble position can melt hearts; it can touch them deeply and inspire them to follow Jesus Christ. In a celebrated passage in the Rule, St. Benedict writes, “Persevering in the Lord’s teaching in the monastery until death, we shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom.” Simply put, a monk is called to live out the sufferings that Christ himself endured—endured as an act of service to humankind. The monk is not supposed to run away from a world that is suffering because of sin and disobedience, but to enter into its suffering and find redemption.

In the same way, we may powerfully influence others, not by running away from their pain and suffering, but by being willing to share in it. Do you know someone who is sick? Visit them. Do you know someone who is depressed or overwhelmed? Lend them your ear. Give them your shoulder to cry on. When people are suffering, they are at their weakest and most vulnerable. They need our help. When we offer them our strength—and even our weakness—in charity, we make a profound impact on them for the sake of Christ.