What If Catholics Took Evangelization Seriously? A How To
- Guest Contributor
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
A reflection on how intentional relationships and simple witness could transform lives and expand God’s Kingdom.
By Edgar Mares
Evangelization Specialist
Archdiocese of Denver
Have you ever reflected on the impact on the world if, as Catholics, we were always ready, attentive and looking for opportunities to expand the Kingdom of God? How would this affect those closest to us, our acquaintances and those we encounter in passing? How would their lives change if this were our priority?
As I reflect on these questions, the parable of the shrewd steward in Luke's Gospel comes to mind. Our Lord concludes this parable by saying, “for the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with the things of this world than are the children of light," or, in another translation, "the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light" (Luke 16:8). Imagine: how would the world change if, as children of the light, we were more prudent in our relationships?
Let's explore simple ways to be more intentional in our relationships to evangelize and bring more souls to Christ.
The Universal Call to Evangelization
We begin with two common questions that may arise when reflecting on evangelization: Who is called to evangelize? What exactly is evangelization?
Regarding the first question, as baptized Christians, we are all called to evangelize, since through Baptism we become “other Christs” and are sent in and as the Son: “As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world” (John 17:18).
But for what purpose was Jesus sent into the world? Luke tells us that “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). For this reason, Jesus chooses the Twelve apostles and establishes a Church to continue his mission of salvation: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20).
In recent decades, the Church has reaffirmed this teaching. In his encyclical Redemptoris Missio, Pope St. John Paul II tells us that “the universal call to holiness is closely linked to the universal call to mission. Every member of the faithful is called to holiness and to mission” (RM 90). In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis expresses it this way: “It would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simply be passive recipients. The New Evangelization calls for personal involvement on the part of each of the baptized” (EG 120).
What Is Evangelization?
When we hear the word “evangelization,” some may feel uncomfortable or intimidated, especially in light of our universal call, but this reaction is often based on a misunderstanding of what evangelization means.
Many times, we think evangelizing means standing on a street corner preaching loudly. Or we believe we must convince or even pressure others to believe in Jesus and his Church, especially those closest to us.
Perhaps we think evangelization is simply apologetics, having all the answers to every possible question about the faith. But evangelization is more than this; it is more personal and intimate, something simpler that all of us can do.
Looking at the First Letter of Peter, we can say that evangelizing means always being ready “to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15), especially to those who still need to hear about faith in Christ, which gives rise to that hope.
The Central Message of Evangelization: The Kerygma
It is important to mention here the kerygma, the core message of the Gospel. Its basic points are:
We were created out of love and for a filial, intimate and personal relationship with God, who loves us infinitely and unconditionally.
Our relationship with God was broken because of sin, and there was nothing we could do to restore it.
God the Father sent his only Son to restore our relationship with him through his life, Passion, death and Resurrection.
God invites each of us to make a decision about the salvation he offers in Jesus and to live in a personal relationship with him as disciples.
The kerygma is the foundation of the hope Peter speaks of, which leads us to an important point: if we are to “give an answer to anyone who asks,” we must first personally accept the salvation God offers and choose to live as disciples of Jesus. Without this decision, we cannot bear witness to or proclaim this hope to others.
An initial conversion is therefore essential for evangelization. Before rules and doctrines, evangelization centers on a person: Jesus Christ. If we do not know him intimately and personally, nothing we teach will truly bear fruit. The goal of evangelization, then, is to accompany others and help them come to know Jesus so that they may eventually say “yes” to a personal relationship with him.
Evangelization in Practice
To evangelize, we must first and foremost recognize that every human being was created for an intimate and personal relationship with God. Second, it is essential to identify where each person is in their spiritual journey. Without this, our efforts will be ineffective.
To truly know what a person needs spiritually, it's essential to know exactly where they are in their journey of faith. A doctor cannot make a good diagnosis without first listening to the patient, nor can he prescribe the right treatment. In the same way, if we do not first “diagnose” where a person is — guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit — we will not be able to offer what they truly need.
These are the first two skills we must learn: listening and identifying. The rest of the process depends greatly on them.
Resources
Two books are especially helpful for deepening these practical skills: Intentional Accompaniment: An Apprenticeship for a New Generation of Builders by Michael Hall, and Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry Weddell.
In these books, we also learn about the thresholds of conversion: a kind of roadmap of the journey each person takes toward an initial conversion, which is the primary goal of evangelization. These thresholds help us more precisely identify where a person is along that path. They are: trust, curiosity, openness and seeking.
For practical reasons, we will focus here on the first two: trust and curiosity.
Seeing, Seeking and Seizing Opportunities for the Kingdom
Let's take a look at how the thresholds of trust and curiosity can help us see, seek and take advantage of opportunities to evangelize and help others in their spiritual journeys towards conversion.
First Threshold: Trust
The threshold of trust is the stage in which a person develops or maintains a certain level of trust in Jesus, the Church or a person of faith. Identifying whether trust exists is essential. When it does, our goal is to nurture it gradually so that, eventually, we can help the person move to the next threshold of curiosity, if they have not already. If it does not exist, our focus should be on doing everything possible to build it.
If circumstances allow, the best way to build trust is by establishing a genuine relationship with the person. Otherwise, we can still find ways to connect by seeking common interests, avoiding judgment, affirming what is good in their life and delighting in them as a person.
For example, imagine that at work or within our circle of friends, we meet someone who is open and shows some level of trust toward believers, but who, in reality, has no real interest in the faith. Recognizing this as an opportunity, we make an effort to build a genuine friendship with that person. We look for shared interests, avoid judging them and affirm the good in their life. If we do this — always asking for God’s grace — it is very likely that we will establish a relationship of trust. Eventually, this will open the door to awaken curiosity about the faith and help the person move to the next threshold.
In situations where it is not possible to form a friendship — such as meeting someone briefly while traveling or at a store — our focus should be on making the encounter as positive as possible. We seek to delight in the person, avoid judgment and affirm what is good. Even if we do not see the results of our efforts, these encounters can have a profound impact. Being intentional in these opportunities can eventually lead to conversion.
Second Threshold: Curiosity
The threshold of curiosity is the stage in which a person shows some level of interest, attraction or positive intrigue about Jesus or some aspect of the faith, often expressed through questions. Crossing this threshold means having a desire to learn more, but it does not necessarily imply openness to change. Curiosity and openness are two different things. At the threshold of openness, a person begins to take the concrete and personal implications of faith seriously.
It is important to understand this distinction. Otherwise, we may misjudge what a person truly needs at this stage and risk pushing them further from Christ instead of drawing them closer.
So how do we help someone grow in or cross this threshold? The most effective way is to make frequent references to Jesus, share stories about him or about the faith, and be attentive and responsive to their level of curiosity. Most importantly, we should share our personal relationship with Jesus.
It is also important to avoid apologetics or premature arguments at this stage and instead focus on the person of Jesus. Rather than trying to satisfy their curiosity with immediate answers, it is often better to ask intentional questions that spark deeper curiosity and engage in meaningful spiritual conversations. In the Gospels, we see that this is Jesus’ method: he is asked 183 questions, responds with 307 and directly answers only three.
A Collaboration of Love and Grace
Putting these practices into action in our personal relationships and daily interactions, especially when we recognize in others a sense of dissatisfaction, existential questioning or suffering, can bear great fruit in grace and conversion.
Evangelization is not simply another task or an intellectual exercise. It is both a personal invitation to the conversion of mind and heart and a collaboration of love with God’s grace to expand his eternal Kingdom.
Recognizing that the universal call to evangelization is both urgent and far simpler than we often think should both challenge and inspire us. If God invites us to offer our small contribution — our few loaves and two fish — it is because he, through his powerful Spirit, will do his part and multiply our efforts.
Let us begin by being willing and attentive to do what he asks of us each day and in every encounter, so that we may cooperate with what he is already doing in the world. Let us respond generously to this invitation.
