Thursday, October 16, 2014

Spirituality: Evangelii Gaudium

From Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation released on November 24, 2013 [127, 128]:

breadlineToday, as the Church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal, there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbors or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching, which takes place in the middle of a conversation, something along the lines of what a missionary does when visiting a home. Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place: on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.

In this preaching, which is always respectful and gentle, the first step is personal dialogue, when the other person speaks and shares his or her joys, hopes and concerns for loved ones, or so many other heartfelt needs.

4 comments:

  1. This is so very true. This is our responsibility as followers of Christ. At RCIA most of the people who come from a different faith background, come because they know someone who has influenced them on a personal level. I love to hear their stories of how God has brought them.

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    1. Yes, the way we act and pray are what draws others to Christ. Happiness is an attractive quality.

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