“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” (Matthew 10:7-8)
The major theme for this 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on our commissioning of being sent to evangelize and transform others with the “Good News” of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelization is the Church's deepest identity to bring the good news of the Gospel to all who seek the life-giving message of faith in Jesus Christ. Evangelization composes of 2 aspects of our Christian discipleship, which are: catechesis and stewardship.
Catechesis means an education in the faith of children, young people and adults, which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life (CCC #5). Catechesis nourishes, forms and deepens the faith one receives through the ministry of the Church.
Stewardship consists of exercising our God-given dominion over His creation, reflecting the image of our creator God in His care, responsibility, maintenance, protection, and beautification of His creation. Stewardship is an expression of our Christian discipleship, rooted in a personal relationship with Christ. Good stewards generously share their gifts and blessings with others for the sake of the Kingdom.
The Church is missionary by her very nature. Her mission is to evangelize and proclaim the salvation of Christ to the ends of the earth. As Christian disciples, we are responsible for evangelizing and promoting our Catholic faith to all aspects of our lives. Each one of us, in virtue of our baptism, is called to evangelize the world, to live our Catholic faith, and to bear witness to the Gospel in our families, friends, parish communities and society.
God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic reminds us of our commissioning of evangelization, to follow Jesus Christ more closely, to repent our sins, to exercise our Christian stewardship, to use our time, treasure, and talents to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves, participating in the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.
How can we Evangelize, present actively Jesus Christ in our lives ?