Go Forth with Hearts on Fire A Pastoral Letter on the New Evangelization

Go Forth with Hearts on Fire Who? From Bishop Loverde to me and you What? Pastoral Letter on the New Evangelization Where? The Diocese of Arlington When? End of the Year of Faith Why? “to provide a tool box for you to become a great evangelist in this age” How? Experience the personal love of Jesus Christ and share it with others

What is evangelization? Sharing the Good News about a Person ◦Good News: “Euangelion” in Greek “eu” means “good” and “angelion” means “message” ◦About a Person: “It is you and me taking a step toward Jesus…and then toward others to introduce Him.” It is the reason for the Church’s existence (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14)

What is the New Evangelization? It is presenting the Gospel anew to people and cultures that have fallen away from their faith It has two steps: ◦“First, we ourselves must be re-evangelized, converted ever more to the Lord, set ablaze with His love” ◦“Second, we must reach out in love to others to show them Christ as the fountain Who satisfies the thirst of their hearts”

Why we don’t evangelize… “I’m not an evangelist – that’s for weird people on TV” “I don’t want to tell other people how to live their life” “I don’t want everyone to think I’m holy roller” “There’s no time!” “Seriously, it’s not that big of a deal…”

Encountering the love of Christ… “Before you and I can take up our mission as a disciple and evangelist, we must know that we are the Lord’s beloved. Jesus loves us with an intimate, unconditional, and unfailing love – no matter what. Even when you or I sin, the Lord reaches out to us with His forgiveness and mercy. By His Death and Resurrection, He redeemed us from eternal death and brought us into life.”

What is our response? Our response is faith and obedience ◦Yes Lord I believe ◦“Adherence to the Father’s will is the key to living as a son or daughter in the Son. Accepting this gift is the core of Christian holiness and discipleship…embracing the Lordship of Christ in every area of our lives, including obeying Him in ways that may seem painfully contrary to our personal desires”

A personal relationship with Christ lived in His Church “My relationship with Jesus Christ is founded upon knowing Him as a Person, and it is lived within our Church. It is not a relationship between Jesus and me in isolation, nor is it between a community and me without Jesus.” –Bishop Loverde

How to evangelize… Authentic Joy – from knowing and loving Jesus Start close – in our homes Service – be the answered prayer to a world thirsting for meaning

Staying strong… “Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature” – C.S. Lewis 3 ways to stay strong in our faith: ◦The Eucharist – “Love Incarnate” ◦Confession – keeps us humble ◦Daily Prayer – keeps us going

Obstacles you will encounter… The Gospel is a radically different message from what the world offers Ignorance – many people don’t know the truth Misunderstanding – some people don’t totally understand, others understand it but they don’t like it so they distort it Indifference – people don’t see relevance to their life People don’t feel welcome or connected

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization She walked the walk She cares for us like a mother She can pray for us now