What does evangelization mean to you?

I recently asked this question to Catholic young adults at a City on a Hill Event  called Tuesdays at the Boulevard.  The event begins with Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Kansas City, MO, followed by pizza and fellowship.  It is a hospitable event that gives young adults in their 20’s and 30’s a space to pray together and socialize as a community.  I spent this particular evening interviewing persons about what evangelization meant to them.  You may find their responses here.

My students often ask me why they cannot see God working in their daily lives as clearly as in scripture.  It reminds me of a psalm in the liturgy of the hours: “Day unto day takes up the story, and night unto night makes known the message.”  Our Lord continues to speak to us by connecting the thoughts, persons, moments, and encounters of each day.  It is up to us to enter into his plan.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann recently joined Bishop Ward High School for adoration.  He read the gospel about when Jesus calls Simon Peter.  “Put out into deep water … from now on you will be catching men” (Lk 5).  I thought this was a fitting gospel choice as we go forth and continue the Lord’s mission  to share the gospel with others.

St. Peter's Cathedral Kansas City, KS

I asked my students if they thought it was a coincidence that the gospel and message from Archbishop Naumann paralleled the video of people I had just interviewed.  It gave them pause for reflection.  May we all continue to be fishers of men for the kingdom. 

Let us enter in and go out into the deep!