Evangelization: Who Have You Invited to Meet Christ?

Band of Brother by ~7mts

Today's gospel reading (John 1:35-42) contains two subtle examples of evangelization. First, John the Baptism points out Jesus as he is walking by and then tells two of his followers "Behold the Lamb of God." They respond to John by following Jesus.

In the next passage we see that Andrew is the one that invites his brother Simon, soon to be renamed Peter, to meet Jesus. I find it fascinating that in John's gospel account, Peter, the chosen leader of the early Church, was not called directly by Christ.

The Navarre Bible commentary explains:

Sometimes He addresses a person directly by stirring his soul and inviting him to follow Him; at other times, as in the present case, He chooses to use someone close to us who knows us, to bring us to meet Christ.

St. Josemaria Escriva describes the apostolic implications of inviting a friend to meet Jesus:

"Open your own hearts to Jesus and tell Him your story. I don't want to generalize. But one day perhaps an ordinary Christian, just like you, opened your eyes to horizons both deep and new, yet as old as the Gospel. He suggested to you the prospect of following Christ earnestly, seriously, of becoming an apostle of apostles. Perhaps you lost your balance then and didn't recover it. Your complacency wasn't quite replaced by true peace until you freely said 'yes' to God, because you wanted to, which is the most supernatural of reasons. And in its wake came a strong, constant joy, which disappears only when you abandon Him" (St. Josemaria Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 1). [emphasis added]

The Second Vatican Council explained the laity's role in the mission of the Church to evangelize:

"On all Christians therefore is laid the pre-eminent responsibility of working to make the divine message of salvation known and accepted by all people throughout the world" 
(Apostolicam Actuositatem, 3).

God is counting on us to do our part in bringing others to Christ. This is at the heart of the Church's mission. Practically speaking, it's our mission too. We might have a friend or family member who has fallen away from the Church and is scared to come back. Or maybe they have never stepped foot in a Catholic Church. Perhaps all they need is a kind gesture, an invitation. They need to know that Christ is waiting for them. We don't have to thump them over the head with a Bible or Catechism; we merely need to be their friends and, like St. John the Baptist and St. Andrew, point the way. We can't let our own insecurities get in the way. The fact is our inadequacies don't matter as long as we put our trust in the Holy Spirit. He will do the rest of the work.

What are you waiting for? Go out and invite someone you know who needs the love of Christ. It will change their lives forever...and yours.