Run the Relay of the New Evangelization

In the second reading, St. Paul notes his nearness to death. Reflecting on his life, he writes, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). He compares the experience of life as a race with the destination of Heaven.
 
This weekend, on October 22nd, we celebrated the feast day of a great saint of our Church: Pope St. John Paul II. He ran the race, keeping the faith amidst tremendous trials and traumas.
 
As a nine year old, his mother died, with his brother passing only three years later. By the age of twenty one, his dad died, leaving him an orphan. During his early twenties, his home country of Poland was invaded by the Germans. He pursued his religious formation and higher education in secret with classmates and teachers even being killed or sent to concentration camps throughout the process. He lived through both communism and Nazism. Amidst these suffering, he ushered in peace, both in the Church and world. He gave the Church beautiful teachings that she is still unpacking today about the dignity of each human person and evangelization. As John Paul II’s death approached, like St. Paul, he could claim, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
 
Yet, Pope St. John Paul II, did not just run a race with his life; he began a relay race of the New Evangelization meant for me and you to each continue. The Church has always been engaged in the work of evangelization. The permanent evangelization work of the Church is seen in how the Church  continues to make the sacraments available and engages in charitable works. Yet, amidst these evangelistic endeavors, the New Evangelization addresses further concerns. People raised Catholic, receiving the sacraments, are not choosing to embrace their faith. Baptized Catholics are in need of evangelization; they need to be invited to the way of life of a Catholic disciple. Secondly, in addition to continuing the faith in communities of Catholics, the Church must also be concerned about bringing the Gospel to de-Christianized areas which are becoming more and more predominant. The New Evangelization addresses these two aspects that complement the permanent evangelization of the Church: the evangelization of the baptized (especially those not living the way of life of a Catholic) and the evangelization of the de-Christianized areas of the world.
 
Pope St. John Paul II ushered in the New Evangelization in our Church, calling the laity and clergy alike to a renewed evangelistic focus. Many beautiful ministries and religious communities in our Church have begun as fruits of the New Evangelization, such as NET Ministries and the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus. Pope St. John Paul II speaks of the urgency of evangelization, saying, “We cannot be content when we consider the millions of our brothers and sisters, who like us have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, but who live in ignorance of the love of God. For each believer, as for the entire Church, the missionary task must remain foremost.”* Proclaiming Christ and evangelizing is an invitation and a mission for all Catholics.
 
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI compliments Pope St. John Paul II’s teaching with the encouragement that, “The New Evangelization must surrender to the mystery of the grain of mustard seed.”**
 
The way of growth, according to God, is the way of the mustard seed. God is not expecting large, immediate results from us when it comes to evangelization. Rather, He desires humility and abandonment to Him regarding when and how things will grow. According to the law of the mustard seed, to meet the millions we must first invest in the few. Consider, what, or who, is the small mustard seed in your life? How is Jesus is inviting you to evangelize? Who are the few you can invest in consistently over time? By each of us investing in a few people, we can reach the millions of our brothers and sisters with the truth of God’s love!
 
May we each receive the baton of the New Evangelization and carry on this relay race. May we each pass this baton by investing deeply in the faith lives of a few. With St Paul and Pope St. John Paul II, may we and those we touch with the faith cry out upon death, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
 
P.S. — A great online resource created to equip Catholics to live out the New Evangelization is called Revive Parishes. On this platform, hours of free courses are available. If interested, set up an account here: reviveparishes.com/free.