When we even think about sharing the message of Jesus Christ, most of us become afraid. So let us look at the specific fears we might face.
- We fear rejection. We might somehow be devalued in the eyes of another.
- We fear being judged and condemned. Someone might say, “Who are you, with all of your imperfections, to speak to me?”
- We fear questions that we can’t answer. Our knowledge might not be enough. We aren’t experts.
- We fear loneliness and isolation. Our families and friends might abandon us as religious fanatics.
- We fear our personal inadequacy in the face of God, as we consider a new calling to evangelize.
One evangelizer/parish home visitor told us he was “scared to death.” Yet when he returned from his first experience he was dancing with joy. “You’ll never believe it!” he said. “They were so receptive. Right away, they had questions that put me at ease and helped me sharing my faith.” Then he concluded, “Thank God for my feeling of inadequacy! If I had gone in there, feeling totally in control, I would not have allowed the Holy Spirit room to do his thing. That’s who was in control the minute I rang the doorbell.”
Evangelizing takes courage, because these fears are valid. And ‘Yes,’ there are risks. But it is the Lord who provides holy boldness which allows us to go where angels fear to tread. So take a deep breath, utter a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit and just dig in and go for it! Spread the warmth of God’s merciful love affair with each of us. What is the worst that can happen when we share the Good News of Jesus Christ … death? And what is death, except Graduation Day, the happy Alleluia Day that I welcome.
Finally, when we ask ourselves, “What is the worst that can happen?” we should also ask ourselves, “What is the best that could happen?” There are so many positive possibilities, so many promises from God as we exercise spiritual compassion. “Do not fear, little flock, for it has pleased the Father to give you the Kingdom,” Luke 12:32
Excerpted and adapted from The Ministry of Evangelization by Susan Blum Gerding, (1940 – 2018), who was a pioneer in Catholic evangelizing, an author, a Papal Medal winner, and our mentor. For more visit https://www.facebook.com/HolySpiritCalling/