Only Catholic Evangelization can satisfy the wounded world’s yearning for Mercy.

Evangelization is not in reaction or in opposition to anyone or any philosophy. As a student in the Emmanuel School of Evangelization in Rome recently told us: the difference between evangelism and Evangelization is that evangelism is accomplished by imposing what one believes on another person, whereas, Evangelization is accomplished by drawing from the person the desire to enter into the Fullness of Christ because of His great Mercy.

Evangelism is accomplished by imposing what one believes on another person, whereas, Evangelization is accomplished by drawing from the person the desire to enter into the Fullness of Christ because of His great Mercy.

Catholic Evangelization is difficult because Mercy only flows from a crucified Heart to a wounded Heart. Sometimes we see valiant attempts of Catholics to evangelize using power and techniques looking strangely like what we did before we met the crucified Christ and His Mother at Calvary. Through communicating false expectations and threats, searching people are misguidedly pushed into an obedience of obligation. Only the transmission of Mercy will result in the surrender of the wounded one to the wounded Savior, bringing the promised peace (Mat. 11:28-30).

It is like the difference between eating fast food and eating a real French meal. The first satisfies for a brief time and results in addiction. The second not only tastes good it truly fills and satisfies nutritional needs. Teaching a Gospel of promises rather than a Gospel of sacrifices can never satisfy our need to give ourselves totally for another Who has given Himself totally for us.

Our present culture is based on the word more. The culture of love is based on the word less. Only “He must increase and I must decrease” truly satisfies. Sowing and reaping only works when I sow my life to become like the Heart of the crucified Christ. Sowing money is a poor substitute for sowing a selfless life.

This call to a selfless life sounds like the teachings we received when we first became missionaries. Though we did not have an intimate understanding of Mercy, we were taught that if Christ had given all how could we give any less! And so we gave all our strength and financial security and youth and place in the pecking order of men to Africa. Now we are old and understand a Gospel of sacrifice and Mercy. Happily we made the right choice.

If Christ gave all
how could we give any less!

Our Hearts are somewhat nauseated listening to and seeing on television the “Gospel of getting.” How unkind to promise people substitute sanctification by the low road of sowing money instead of blood. The sound good, feel good, look good Gospel satisfies only until the next fix of praise and “more for me” Bible study. But the Gospel of the giving of self while leaving us weak all the while empowers the Mercy-filled Heart.

Catholic Evangelization in a wounded world must include the healing balm for wounds - the Sacraments. Everyone needs the seven Sacraments of the Church. Everyone! This brings to mind a recent visit with a bishop to the Basilica of Montmartre in Paris. As we walked through the big entryway we encountered the bucketfuls of tourists moving in every direction. I was there with the bishop so he could confess his sins. You would not have known he was a bishop because it was cold outside and his coat covered his big cross. We approached the confessional and saw that there was only one priest confessing with a long line of people seated and waiting for their turn. I remember thinking, “The bishop will either go to the front of the line as he should or we will come back another day.” It is not what he did. He just took the empty seat at the end of the line and I sat down beside him.

Catholic Evangelism includes
taking our place on a Mercy seat.

Catholic Evangelization includes taking our place on a Mercy seat. There were at least ten or more people in line in front of us. As people had their turn we moved like musical chairs to the next seat. I think of these seats as Mercy seats bringing us gradually closer to the Mercy Seat of God (Heb. 4:16). I was deeply touched by the humility of this bishop and his desire to Evangelize, through the Sacrament of confession, those areas of his own soul needing Mercy Evangelization. If a godly bishop sees the need to be Evangelized by this Sacrament how much more so do those Catholics who are suffering from wounds that have festered for a long time.

God has a part and we have a part. God Evangelizes the human soul through the Sacraments. It is up to us to go into the streets and gently lead seekers to the Church. God’s part is anointing humble priests to administer the Sacraments: of Confession, Baptism, The Eucharist, Anointing, as well as preaching the Word etc. Our part is getting sheep to the priest. We can’t drag them like I used to do as an Evangelical. But we can beg them to come (II Cor. 5:19,20). Or we can carry them or lead them or pray them back. All of these methods involve Mercy. Mercy does not violate man’s free will; it lovingly reasons with it from the Cross (Is. 1:18).