With the celebration of the Ascension and Pentecost celebrated in the recent past, it is a good time for each one of us to ask ourselves the rather challenging question: how we are doing with the Great Commission Jesus gave us before he departed from this earth: "Go and make disciples of all nations"? (Mt 28:19)
Many of us, I know, grew up with an understanding that our role in the Church was basically to pray, pay, and obey, but this, of course, is not the biblical vision of discipleship and is not in keeping with our baptismal dignity. Rather, the Holy Spirit sends us all out on mission by virtue of our baptism, and then strengthens us in a particular way to spread and defend the faith by the sacrament of Confirmation, just as the Apostles were strengthened by that first Confirmation, Pentecost. I've been impressed by several in our parish who have come to me about their joys in bringing the good news to others who have turned away from their faith and who, in fact, originally gave me the idea for the series on evangelization I have been leading after the 8:30 a.m. Mass.
But we might ask: is this just a special task for the few, or is it for each one of us? Are we really called to actually speak about our faith or just to be a good example?
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