Thoughts on evangelization

                                                   Being an Evangelist

(John 1, 35-42)

 

In this Sunday's Gospel John describes how two of John the Baptist’s followers became disciples of Jesus. These two are with John when he sees Jesus drawing near coming along the other side of the Jordan. The Baptist describes Jesus in an unusual and unique way: "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." The two wondered why John was speaking about Jesus in this manner and why was he saying this to them. 

 

They had probably encountered Jesus before. There was the time when Jesus came to the River Jordan and John somewhat reluctantly baptized him. The Scriptures also indicate that Jesus for an indefinite period of time had joined with John and his disciples in John's ministry.

 

But instead of asking John the Baptist for an explanation of his declaration the two decide to deal with the matter directly with Jesus. So they set off after him. However Jesus takes the initiative and, as it were, makes it easier for them by inviting them to come and see where (and how) he lives. Jesus uses them a firsthand. Interview. How we would love to have a life transcript of that conversation.

 

But it is perhaps more important to appreciate how it all affected and change them. Upon leaving Jesus they have to immediately go off to their friends and relatives; they had to tell them what they had experience and discovered in Jesus and how his had affected them.

 

The disciples’ reaction is reminiscent of Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria. Theirs was a lively, at times playful and challenging conversation. But when it concludes she too has to go off and tell everyone she meets about her encounter with Jesus and what it all signified to her.

 

I believe we see in these two episodes a key ingredient, perhaps the most important one, of evangelization, that is of our sharing The Good News. The Lord desires that we share his gifts to us with others, to pass on to the people in our lives the good news of Jesus. The two disciples of John, the Samaritan woman become Jesus’ first evangelists. They went out to family, friends, relatives and probably strangers, to whoever would listen, and very simply told them what Jesus had done for them, how he treated them and now what this meant to them.

 

Let us pray that each of us in our own unique ways may share with those in our life world how the Lord has touched and graced our lives, that we too may be his evangelists!

Jim Blumeyer, S.J.