We have been given an exciting and unbelievable mandate: to evangelise and let the world know that there is a God who loves us unconditionally. He loves and cares for the poor, the rich, the happy, the sad, the fulfilled and the disappointed. (See Mark 16:15)  He is a God who cares so much about you and I that He came down to our tiny planet to become one of us, to live and die on this earth so that we may be saved from the ‘wage of sin’. (See Romans 6:23)

The thing is that there are too many Catholics talking about evangelisation and discipleship but there are too few actually doing it. Maybe there is a misconception that this call to preach the Good News is for the elite few in full-time or part-time Catholic Ministry; catechists, pastoral associates, deacons, priests and bishops. We are all called to preach the Gospel.

St Francis of Assisi is reported to have said “preach Jesus, and if necessary use words”. There is a lot of truth in this as one of the best ways to share your faith is to live a godly life. Brennan Manning a great American Author once said that “the greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” To be credible witnesses of Christ we do not need to be perfect, but we do need to strive to live a life of integrity and holiness.

A godly life is the first thing, but by no means the only thing. It is absolutely necessary to use words too. Catholics have been silent about the joy of the Gospel for too long. The world needs to hear, now more than ever, that you believe in Jesus, and they also need to understand the reason for your faith in Christ.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

When I was sixteen years old I had a life-changing experience of the unconditional love of God. From that moment, my heart became restless. I needed to tell the world that this love was for them too. I now live to spend every day of my life telling teens around Australia and the world that Jesus loves them. I speak at over 100 Catholic secondary schools each year and it breaks my heart that after nearly each school I visit I hear teens telling me, very often in tears, that this was the first time that they had ever been told of God’s unconditional love for them.

The world is desperate for the love and acceptance of God. Showing this love by living a good and holy life is a necessary way of showing it, but we need to do more. The world is crying for words. Speak out!

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