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EVANGELIZATION
Deacon Ed Kleinguetl
In Part 1 of this series, we explored how we are called to Christ’s mission of evangelization. The question for reflection was, “How can we ‘heal’ brokenness?” In Part 2, we will explore this question further in light of our call to discipleship.
How did Jesus heal the brokenness of humanity? He emptied himself, took the form of a slave, and became one of us. He encountered us and was present to us. He dignified and divinized our humanity, combining within himself divinity and humanity. Likewise, we must empty ourselves and encounter our brothers and sisters exactly where they are at in their lives, often in their brokenness.
It is our presence – the image of Christ – that can make the difference; to provide the healing that is needed. We do what we can and allow God to make up the rest (illustrated by the multiplication of the loaves and fish). Sometimes, we may not even realize the impact our actions or witness have on others. One of the most humbling moments in my own life was when a woman shared in a Catholics Returning Session our own experience: “I heard someone say in a homily something about being on a spiritual treadmill and that hit right where I was at.” Then she looked across the room, directly at me and said, “And that was you, wasn’t it?” Never in my dreams could I have imagined the impact of those words on a person seeking to return to the Church. Yet, by offering what I had, God multiplied its effect. Thus, we never know how simple actions or words or deeds may influence the lives of others.
Let’s consider for a moment how Jesus “healed” the brokenness of those whom he encountered. In the encounter with the man born blind, Jesus’ first question to the man was, “What can I do for you?” Accordingly, the first response of the evangelist must be to listen, to encounter the person as who he or she is, a person made in the image of God. The second response is to proclaim love and mercy, not condemnation. We see this example time and time again in the Gospel: the woman caught in the act of adultery, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus the tax collector, just to name a few. Jesus did not condemn them. He showed the richness of the Father’s mercy.
We cannot place obstacles in the way of people who want or need to encounter God. We need to enable others to encounter God. Think again of the man born blind. Those who “went before” (more properly in the Greek translation, the “leaders of the people”) tried to silence the blind man when he called out. They judged that Jesus did not need to be bothered with this person. He was just a nuisance. However, Jesus welcomed the man and healed him. Similarly, the great witness of our age – Fr. Damien of Molokai, Dorothy Day, or Mother Teresa of Calcutta – never judged whether a person was worthy or deserved the love of God. They reacted with compassion and love simply because the person existed – because the Gospel calls each of us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned, and visit the sick.
In Eastern Christian spirituality, the transformation we undergo from being made in the image of God to becoming partakers of the divine nature (returning to the likeness of God) is called theosis. “The Son of God became man so that man could become God.” Christ’s incarnation divinized humanity and, through the miracle of Pentecost, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The “likeness of God” includes being able to relate lovingly to others. Jesus’ whole purpose was to unite humanity to one another and to God, to restore what we had lost in the fall, and make us once again children of God. This equates well with the idea the “evangelizer must first be evangelized,” to be transformed by the love of God and, thus, to share that love.
Returning to our examples from the Gospel, how did those who encountered Jesus respond? Zacchaeus committed to giving back four-fold to anyone whom he had defrauded. The woman at the well (designated by Eastern tradition as St. Photina) left her jar at the well and went to tell others in town about Jesus, and the man born blind followed Jesus down the road, glorified him, and bore witness that this was in fact the “Son of David.” The love of Christ compelled them to act. Hence, we who encounter the love of God are also compelled to act. Our witness is evangelization. The good news must be proclaimed by witness. As St. Francis of Assisi told his followers, “Always preach the Gospel. Use words only when necessary.”
We live in an anxious culture. There is fear, pain, and brokenness. Consumer spirituality has led to spiritual bankruptcy. Poverty, not just in material terms, has probably never been greater. More than ever, our society needs the witness of the Gospel. Without God, we bear the weight alone. With God, we are transformed by an encounter with love. Where can we encounter God? We need to be vigilant, watching for His presence. He is always there, like the whispering in the wind, barely perceptible, if we but take the time to look.
Where do we find the face of Jesus? As author and social activist Gerry Straub writes, “Jesus chose to be poor. We wish he hadn't. We are embarrassed by his poverty; it makes us uncomfortable.” Jesus suggests that poverty is a privileged path, that the poor possess an eminent dignity. We don't get it. We do not choose to be poor. In fact, we run from poverty, avoid it like a sickness, work towards security and self-reliance. For us, there is nothing ‘blessed’ about being poor.” Poverty of various types is all around. Like Peter, we cannot stay on the mountain in the bliss of the transfiguration. With Jesus, we need to descend and continue the journey, to go where we are uncomfortable, to bear witness to the good news, and to be the image of Jesus to others.
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