THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Jesus said to them, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Good evangelization has to be a dialogue where the other person speaks and shares his or her joys, hopes, and concerns for loved ones, or so many other heartfelt needs. It is so important to listen and care, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest.

After listening, bring up God’s Word, perhaps by a Bible verse or relating a story. This is fundamentally important. None of us is as smart as the Sacred Scripture. When people have questions, go to the Bible for answers. You don’t need to know much. For instance, it is surprising how many issues the Beatitudes apply to. If you can flesh out the lesson with a personal story, better still.

As a final step, if it seems prudent and if the circumstances are right, this fraternal and missionary encounter could end with a brief prayer related to the concerns which the person may have expressed. This is a gutsy move. But it is also the kind of thing that seems less weird the more you try it.

Praying with somebody does three things: it demonstrates your concern—you don’t want to win an argument; you want them to be healed and happy. It teaches the person what prayer looks like. Many people you meet might have never heard someone pray. Of course, it brings God right down into the midst of you.