At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the Apostles, “go make disciples …” (Mt 28:19). This charges us to proclaim the Gospel.

 

Pope Paul VI, in Evangelii Nuntiandi, affirms this with the statement, “the Church exists in order to evangelize” (14). 

 

However, many Catholics are both tantalized and terrified by evangelization. We want others to know the joy of God’s love and mercy, but we fear ridicule or rejection from family and peers. 

 

Additionally, society has grown hostile to faith, attempting to relegate faith to the realm of superstition or fanaticism. St. Paul encourages us to not be “ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16).

 

Despite our trepidation, we cannot ignore our duty to evangelize. St. Francis is often credited with saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” While there is no record of St. Francis saying this, it illustrates the value and power of lived faith. If we hope to lead others to Christ, we must first strive for holiness in every aspect of our life. 

 

A misreading of the quote implies that if you live a good life, you don’t need to use words. This is incorrect; words are necessary. St. Paul says, “proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient…” (2 Tim 4:2).

 

In her wisdom, the Church directs us to start with the kerygma. Simply put, the kerygma is the proclamation that God loves you and wants to save you. 

 

This is the “first” and “principal proclamation” of our faith. (Evangelii Gaudium 164). The kerygma is the truth that illuminates all other teachings and practices. In turn, all other teachings lead us back to the kerygma. 

 

It may sound overly simple; God loves you and wants to save you. However, it is incredibly rich. It testifies to the glory of God and His immeasurable love. It affirms the reality that we need to be saved from something — namely our own sin. It reminds us salvation is a gift from God and that we are worth saving. 

 

The kerygma meets us where we are and invites us to eternal life. 

 

In a world afflicted by sin and failure, often the first task of evangelizing is to help someone realize that their brokenness does not diminish God’s love or desire to save them. God knows how broken we are, and He still loves us (Eph 2:4-5).

 

It can be hard to start with the kerygma. We want to jump straight to Church doctrine or practices, like going to Mass. If we speak to someone who was raised in the Catholic faith, we may assume they have already been evangelized and just need to put it into practice. 

 

The error is confusing information with encounter. Knowing about God is not the same as knowing the person of God. Our faith is not predominantly a list of theological and moral teachings. It is first and foremost an encounter with the living God. It invites us to participate in the eternal, life-giving love of the Trinity. This makes it essential to start with God’s love. 

 

It also means that I, as the evangelizer, need to recognize the kerygma in my life. I have to share with others how I have encountered God’s transforming love and forgiveness. 

 

Throughout the Gospels, belief in Jesus is fueled by the testimony of those He has healed. 

 

Similarly, online shopping offers me a valuable resource: customer reviews. I get to hear from actual users. Their witness helps me to know what my experience will be like and if something is worth my investment. 

 

So too, sharing our firsthand experience of Jesus can be our most convincing case to those who have not yet met Him. It can help them to understand the encounter God is inviting them to and see that it is worth their investment. 

 

Jesus says, “You are the light of the world…” One does not “light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house” (Mt 5:15-15).

 

I encourage you to be a light in a dark world. Prayerfully consider how you have encountered God and who God is inviting you to share His love with.