3rd Week of Lent 2018 - Friday - Everyday Evangelization

As many of you know, I post my homilies on facebook and on an internet blog. And I do this for several reasons. One, several years ago, Pope Benedict encouraged Catholics to “take back the internet.” Where the internet is often host to a lot of filth, error, anger and gossip, it can also be used as a powerful means of evangelization and catechesis. I chose to post my homilies specifically on Facebook, because on Facebook, when you post an article or a picture, it will appear on the screens of everyone in your network.

So a homily on forgiveness, or belief in God, or the importance of confession, will appear not just on the screens of those who are looking for these topics, but on the screens of the atheists, fallen away catholics, cafeteria catholics, pious souls, seekers, and the anti-religious that make up my network.My prayer is, even if they don’t read the homily, but simply glance at it, they but for a brief moment, consider the call to believe more deeply in God and seek his truth.

Pope Francis spoke about the importance of evangelization in his encyclical Evanglii Gaudium. He writes, “there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbors or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching, which takes place in the middle of a conversation… Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place: on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.”

Jesus, of course, calls us to love God and love neighbor. And, I think Pope Francis, highlights the important connection between these two loves. Love of neighbor is the embodiment of our love of God. Love of God is not simply something I hold in the secret of my heart, it is to be evident and physically manifested. My thoughts, words, and actions are to flow from my love of God, and point others to the love of God.

The kindness shown to a stranger at the supermarket, or at the coffee shop, or the kind word of encouragement to a discouraged spouse or family member, these can be powerful avenues for the love of God to become manifest. And perhaps, for a moment, the former Catholic who renounced his faith, might miss God, miss the Church which fosters the love of God, might even come to a renewed faith; the seeker, raised without religion, as more and more of our fellow citizen are these days, might come to discover, the God who loves them

May our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, open our lives to sharing the love of God in our everyday encounters, that the love of God and neighbor which is manifested most fully in the heart of Christ on the cross, may manifest in our own lives as well, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That those preparing for baptism and full Christian initiation at Easter may be strengthened in Faith, Hope, and Love through the Church’s prayer and witness.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.