In Your Face!!!
"In Your Face--Not!!!" Today in our country it appears that some people advocate that having "an attitude" is a good thing. This is something I have difficulty understanding. Remember the old saying that goes something like "more bees are drawn by honey than vinegar". I believe this saying still holds true.
I've been asked if I had any ideas on "evangelizing"; well my number one suggestion is to remember the above phrase as, I believe, it's a rarity when an "in your face" approach will be productive. I don't know all I need regarding evangelization but a few suggestions I can come up with include--"smile". A smile can open many conversations and talking comes in handy when you are evangelizing, though silence can say more than words. Also, practice what you believe--as the saying goes walk the walk as you talk the talk. The Catholic Answers organization (www.catholic.com) has a good concise pamphlet on the subject titled "12 Painless Ways to Evangelize" by Karl Keating. Like some others, the San Antonio Archdiocese has an Office of Evangelization, its director is Martha Fernandez-Sardina at MFernandez-Sardina@archdiosa.org. She has a short flyer, also with 12 suggestions on how evangelize.
A few suggestions that I have picked up and implemented from various sources include: A. Praying for a person immediately. When someone asks me to pray for a special need, I agree and I ask the person if we could say a short prayer right at the moment, I mean short, e.g., "Dear Lord please help .... in his/her need". This approach was suggested by Martha Fernandez-Sardina as the immediacy of the prayers demonstrates real concern for the person and, we are less likely to forget to pray for the person in the future.
B. Writing a short statement on the back envelopes when paying bills, etc., e.g. "Please, Support Life from Conception to Natural Death". Did you ever consider how many people handle/see the correspondence you mail?
C. Carrying a publication, one actually read, when ordering and waiting for a take out meal. Recently I ordered a pizza at the local Pizza Hut and I had an issue of "This Rock" with me. A waiter saw the cover and asked me how he could order/buy the magazine.
D. Carrying a coin size religious medallion in a pocket. The other day while picking up an take out lunch from a local Italian restaurant, I pulled out my change, in my hand was my half dollar size "Sacred Heart of Jesus" medallion that I keep amongst the coins. Yep, you guessed it, the young cashier saw the medallion and stated; "What a beautiful coin, can I see it?" As she studied the medallion I explained to her the significance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my life.
E. Making the "Sign of the Cross" in public places at meals etc. Traditionally, Catholics begin and end their prayers with the "Sign of the Cross" while reciting "In The Name of The Father, And the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen." Yet I, as many Catholics, am hesitant to say this prayer in public, e.g., at restaurants, etc. Ironically, the sign of the Cross it is one of the oldest prayers in Christendom. During the earliest days of Christian martyrdom when they were executed in the Roman arenas, it is recorded that many made a sign of the cross on their foreheads, thus demonstrating their belief in the Blessed Trinity and differenciating themselves from the non-Christians being executed beside them. Recently on EWTN-TV, a priest who converted to Catholicism noted that the seed for his conversion goes back to when he was in fifth grade and a classmate, the only Catholic in the class, made the Sign of the the Cross before a classroom prayer. The classmate explained to him why he made the Sign of the Cross and its significance--this seed germinated years later while the now priest was in college.
F. Respecting the other person's beliefs and knowing when to stop talking. I try to remember saying less is better than saying too much. I believe in the old saying--a person leaving the table should be a little hungry for more; prompting a return to the table.
G. Finally, welcoming further questioning. When saying goodbye, I attempt to ensure the person knows I'm available to talk more about the subject when the person is ready and I insure they have a way of contacting me.
Evangelizing is easy though at times it may take courage. Inadequate as we may feel, we are all called to evangelize, evangelizing with love and respect of the other person. All I can suggest, when evangelizing remember "honey and the bees".
Jesus Christ said "Go and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matt 28:19),
Pope Paul VI wrote "The Church exists in order to evangelize" (Evangeli nuntiandi, 14)
Pope John Paul II wrote "Evangelization is the supreme duty of every baptized Christian" (Redemptoris missio, 77).
I've been asked if I had any ideas on "evangelizing"; well my number one suggestion is to remember the above phrase as, I believe, it's a rarity when an "in your face" approach will be productive. I don't know all I need regarding evangelization but a few suggestions I can come up with include--"smile". A smile can open many conversations and talking comes in handy when you are evangelizing, though silence can say more than words. Also, practice what you believe--as the saying goes walk the walk as you talk the talk. The Catholic Answers organization (www.catholic.com) has a good concise pamphlet on the subject titled "12 Painless Ways to Evangelize" by Karl Keating. Like some others, the San Antonio Archdiocese has an Office of Evangelization, its director is Martha Fernandez-Sardina at MFernandez-Sardina@archdiosa.org. She has a short flyer, also with 12 suggestions on how evangelize.
A few suggestions that I have picked up and implemented from various sources include: A. Praying for a person immediately. When someone asks me to pray for a special need, I agree and I ask the person if we could say a short prayer right at the moment, I mean short, e.g., "Dear Lord please help .... in his/her need". This approach was suggested by Martha Fernandez-Sardina as the immediacy of the prayers demonstrates real concern for the person and, we are less likely to forget to pray for the person in the future.
B. Writing a short statement on the back envelopes when paying bills, etc., e.g. "Please, Support Life from Conception to Natural Death". Did you ever consider how many people handle/see the correspondence you mail?
C. Carrying a publication, one actually read, when ordering and waiting for a take out meal. Recently I ordered a pizza at the local Pizza Hut and I had an issue of "This Rock" with me. A waiter saw the cover and asked me how he could order/buy the magazine.
D. Carrying a coin size religious medallion in a pocket. The other day while picking up an take out lunch from a local Italian restaurant, I pulled out my change, in my hand was my half dollar size "Sacred Heart of Jesus" medallion that I keep amongst the coins. Yep, you guessed it, the young cashier saw the medallion and stated; "What a beautiful coin, can I see it?" As she studied the medallion I explained to her the significance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my life.
E. Making the "Sign of the Cross" in public places at meals etc. Traditionally, Catholics begin and end their prayers with the "Sign of the Cross" while reciting "In The Name of The Father, And the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen." Yet I, as many Catholics, am hesitant to say this prayer in public, e.g., at restaurants, etc. Ironically, the sign of the Cross it is one of the oldest prayers in Christendom. During the earliest days of Christian martyrdom when they were executed in the Roman arenas, it is recorded that many made a sign of the cross on their foreheads, thus demonstrating their belief in the Blessed Trinity and differenciating themselves from the non-Christians being executed beside them. Recently on EWTN-TV, a priest who converted to Catholicism noted that the seed for his conversion goes back to when he was in fifth grade and a classmate, the only Catholic in the class, made the Sign of the the Cross before a classroom prayer. The classmate explained to him why he made the Sign of the Cross and its significance--this seed germinated years later while the now priest was in college.
F. Respecting the other person's beliefs and knowing when to stop talking. I try to remember saying less is better than saying too much. I believe in the old saying--a person leaving the table should be a little hungry for more; prompting a return to the table.
G. Finally, welcoming further questioning. When saying goodbye, I attempt to ensure the person knows I'm available to talk more about the subject when the person is ready and I insure they have a way of contacting me.
Evangelizing is easy though at times it may take courage. Inadequate as we may feel, we are all called to evangelize, evangelizing with love and respect of the other person. All I can suggest, when evangelizing remember "honey and the bees".
Jesus Christ said "Go and make disciples of all the nations..." (Matt 28:19),
Pope Paul VI wrote "The Church exists in order to evangelize" (Evangeli nuntiandi, 14)
Pope John Paul II wrote "Evangelization is the supreme duty of every baptized Christian" (Redemptoris missio, 77).
posted by Paul Amrhein | 4:12 PM
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