Marks of an Evangelizing Lifestyle

Posted on November 27, 2024 by the Bouchers

We can consider Jesus Christ as a prophet, because he proclaimed and acted out the prophetic Gospel message through healing, teaching, and sacrificing his life. In all of these ways, Jesus invites people to accept the love of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. As we follow Jesus, we too are called to be prophetic, to proclaim the gospel in word, deed, and throughout our daily lives. Such a lifestyle is usually marked by these characteristics:

  1. Make no “big deal” about sharing your faith. The call to evangelize is meant to be a normal part of our every word, deed, or action, flowing from the ongoing action of the Holy Spirit within us.
  2. Respect the Spirit’s presence in others. God’s call to evangelize may vary widely from person to person, depending on our natural gifts, skills, and charisms of the Holy Spirit. So will the response of others will also vary when we share. Respect God’s presence in others (seen or unseen).
  3. Share about Jesus after appropriate testing. Our journey needs to be in line with the Gospel of Jesus, the Scriptures, the teaching of the Church, Holy Tradition (Saints, liturgy, prayer, morality, Catechism, Catholic social justice, etc.), and the exhortations of our pastoral leaders.
  4. If others join us in new depths of faith, welcome them into a “shared pilgrimage.” When others discover God’s calling through our evangelizing lifestyle, invite them on a shared journey, the Church’s pilgrimage, working toward serving others and doing God’s will in Jesus Christ.
  5. Move one step at a time, be patiently attentive for the next step. Most often the Holy Spirit only shows us the next step forward in our pilgrimage “Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.” (Ps. 27:14).
  6. Learn from other mature disciples about living this prophet call. Others who have heard the call to everyday evangelizing can guide us. A spiritual director, ministry mentor, small faith sharing group, and the communion of Saints down through the centuries can be models and teachers for us.
  7. Look ahead with hope and planning. When we fail to live as prophetic missionaries we need to pause. “To repent is not to look downward at my own shortcomings, but upwards at God’s love… it is to see not what I have failed to be, but what by the grace of Christ I might yet become.” (St. John Climacus).
  8. Keep ourselves open to God in the present. “If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.” (St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of missionaries). Living a prophetic evangelizing lifestyle is meant to be grounded in prayer, so that this calling becomes like a musical score playing in the background of our spiritual lives.

 

 

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What Have You Done with Your Baptism?

Posted on October 23, 2024 by the Bouchers

In his world travels, Pope Saint John Paul II often asked Catholics, “What have you done with your Baptism?” This question has lingered in our lives ever since; along with a further question, “What have you done with the call and gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to us through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist?” The United States Bishops remind us, “Jesus Christ sends that same Spirit upon everyone who is baptized in his name. For we have all gone down into the water with Christ and have all been anointed as disciples to bring Good News. We have all received his Spirit. This is not a Spirit of timidity or fear, but a bold Spirit of life, truth, joy, and grace.” (Go and Make Disciples, 67)

A. Let’s begin with a little digging into the story of your own baptism.

  1. How old were you when you were baptized? Do you know your Baptismal date?
    or the church, city/town, state, and or country where you were baptized?
  2. What are three things you know, or have been told about your Baptismal day by your parents, Godparents, relatives, who were present? Therese’s godparents were Uncle Norman and cousin Lois Champagne. For John, they were his siblings, Norman and Shirley.
  3. Do you have keepsakes of your Baptism (i.e. Baptismal certificate, photos, gown, candle, jewelry, or gifts)? What do these keepsakes mean for you today?

For Therese, her Baptism was both a joyous occasion and a time to ask for God’s healing of a birth defect. And John remembers showing our grandson his white Baptismal gown, which we still have. Nolan’s eyes bugged out and he whispered, “That’s a dress!” Although we have had to do some hunting for Baptismal dates.

B. Pray about the Baptism of Jesus by St. John in Lk. 3:3-6 and 3:21-22. What would it be like to go back in time and enter into this event? Who would you be? What would you see, hear and feel? and

John [said], “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (NRSV)

C. What does  your Baptism mean today?  What does your encounter with Father, Son and Holy Spirit look like now? Is it growing or in need of resuscitation? Your answer can become the underpinnings of a witness about your spiritual journey no matter how bumpy. Parents might also look at your memories of the Baptism(s) of your children. What did the sacramental encounter mean to you? Then consider sharing your experience in an open, non-judgmental way.

For example, when our grandchild, Elizabeth, was baptized on the Feast of the Holy Cross, the priest lifted her chin and anointed her as he prayed, “Receive the sign of the Cross on your lips”. She responded with a smile and a full-bodied baby sound. When the moment is right, Therese hopes to share the possible meanings of this exchange, with our now adult Elizabeth. Perhaps it is a hint of her/our call to bring the Good News of Jesus into the world of our everyday lives.

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The Nuts and Bolts of Evangelizing Your Young Adult

Posted on September 17, 2024 by the Bouchers

Author, Sherry Weddell, has noted a common concern among older adult believers. She says, “I’ve had a number of conversations with the very serious disciple parents (Catholic and evangelical) of young adults and am seeing a pattern:

Many (not all) of their now grown children, who were very carefully raised, home-schooled, little or no television, active as leaders in youth groups, etc., are walking away from the Church and the faith, now that they are on their own as post-college, independent young adults. De-Churched.

Their parents are handling it as graciously and lovingly as they can, but all are wondering: Were my children just going along with the family norm? Did they ever really believe? Were they ever genuine disciples?” “Forming Intentional Disciples Forum,” Facebook, June 1, 2024).

As authors of a book addressed to these parents, we would add these observations, as well.

  1. Keep in mind that the world of your grown child is dramatically different, than when you were his or her age. Many support systems are gone, invisible, or have taken on a new form. For example, successful youth ministries are in the rearview mirror. And the parish church is not usually seen as viable place to get support as an adult… So, when your young person faces a new marriage, a new job, a death, a divorce or a long-distance move, who does your young adult reach out to (often instead of you)?
  2. And under a parent’s concern is the call to evangelize young adults! But it is equally important to reach out to those who encounter them on a regular basis: their extended families, work teams, peer groups, neighbors. Ask yourself, what parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, might be willing to accompany your young person into an adult spiritual life? Who might be their ‘godparent,’ or companion, as they seek the next step in a life-long journey of faith?

Here are two articles that offer beginning points:
“When Someone You Love Stops Going to Church”
https://www.catholicdigest.com/faith/spirituality/when-someone-you-love-stops-going-to-church/.
“Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters”
https://www.catholicdigest.com/family/relationships/praying-for-our-adult-sons-and-daughters/

Here are two books: Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters: Placing Them in the Heart to God. And a second small group guide available on Amazon.

Mending Broken Relationships, Building Strong Ones: Eight Ways to Love as Jesus Loves Us. This book acknowledges relationship problems in some families that bring pain, hurt, fear, and rejection. It also guides the reader into becoming more like Jesus through respect, gratitude, patience, being present, speaking truth with compassion, and forgiveness.

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