We were having dinner with several other Catholics when my wife Jennifer posed the question, \u201cWhat\u2019s the first thing you think when you hear the phrase\u00a0new evangelization?\u201d<\/p>\n
Around the table, everyone nodded in agreement with the hypothesis that, even though the phrase is frequently used in the Catholic Church\u2014and despite the fact that Pope Benedict XVI declared a Year of Faith with a focus on the New Evangelization between October 2012 and November 2013\u2014many people don\u2019t have a clue as to what \u201cnew evangelization\u201d is, what their role in it is, or how to make it a part of their daily lives.<\/p>\n
Sadly, this seems to be the case even after three decades of discussion on the topic.<\/p>\n
During his historic 1979 visit to Poland, Bl. John Paul II first coined the phrase when he proclaimed, \u201cA\u00a0new evangelization\u00a0has begun, as if it were a new proclamation, even if in reality it is the same as ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the first thing\u00a0you\u00a0think of when you hear the phrase \u201cnew evangelization\u201d?<\/p>\n
There are many different ideas of what the new evangelization is and isn\u2019t. You might think it has something to do with improving religious education, or perhaps it has to do with new media, podcasts, blogs, and social networks. Or maybe you simply think the new evangelization is about a whole new way of sharing the Faith.<\/p>\n
The fact of the matter is that the new evangelization includes each of these approaches, and many more. With so many possibilities, coming up with a concise definition for such an important topic might cause additional trepidation for someone who is already apprehensive about any form of evangelization, new or old.<\/p>\n
Simply put, the new evangelization is all about Jesus Christ and living out the faith that draws us closer to him. It\u2019s about your relationship with Christ, as well as helping others to continually develop a relationship with him, too. But it\u2019s also about the many approaches available to do so, and the fervor with which we embrace this challenge in today\u2019s secular and relativistic culture.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why I say that defining the new evangelization is like herding squirrels: It can take you in a multitude of different directions, sometimes all at once.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s difficult to find someone in today\u2019s world who has not at least heard of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because the initial, first, and primary evangelization that started with the apostles has accomplished what Jesus instructed them to do, which was to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).<\/p>\n
The\u00a0new\u00a0evangelization can be considered a secondary follow-up to the first evangelization that introduced the world to the salvific message of Jesus Christ. It is meant not only for those without any relationship with Christ, but also for those who have been introduced to Jesus, but who, for one reason or another, have not developed or maintained a relationship with him.<\/p>\n
As Bl. John Paul II wrote in\u00a0Redemptoris Missio, the new evangelization is, in part, for \u201cCatholics [who have] lost a living sense of faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n
Likewise, the new evangelization is an ongoing effort that applies to you, me, your priest, the pope\u2014everyone who currently\u00a0doeshave a relationship with Christ.<\/p>\n
An easy way to think about the new evangelization is to break it down into three parts: know the Faith, live the Faith, and share the Faith.<\/p>\n
For the new evangelization to work, it is necessary for each of us as Catholics to engage in all three areas and do so on a constant, unending basis. The new evangelization is a challenge to continually grow in our relationship with Jesus and to help others do the same.<\/p>\n
This starts with knowing our Faith.<\/p>\n
When giving talks to groups, I regularly remind people that from the moment we are conceived, we are 2,000 years behind the curve when it comes to learning about the history, traditions, and sacramental life of the Catholic Church. We\u2019ve got a lot of catching up to do!<\/p>\n
We can (and should) spend our entire lives on an unending quest of knowing as much about our Faith as possible. Our hunger for the truth should drive us to question our misunderstandings and incomplete knowledge and seek out answers that the Church readily provides.<\/p>\n
And if you\u2019re like me, growing up in the 1970s and 80s, perhaps the catechesis you did receive did not provide a truly firm foundational understanding of the core tenets of Catholicism\u2014such as the Church\u2019s teaching on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, for example.<\/p>\n
But if we stop at just\u00a0knowing\u00a0the Faith without\u00a0living\u00a0it out, then we\u2019re just talking the talk and not walking the walk. I know many people who can quote the Bible, chapter and verse, but do a miserable job actually acting in the way that Christ commands. Therefore, the second aspect of the new evangelization is living the Faith through regular reception of the sacraments (especially the Eucharist and reconciliation), as well as striving to be Christ to others in this world. It is finding ways each day to actually implement the teachings of the Faith through our thoughts, words, and actions.<\/p>\n
Lastly, if we just\u00a0know\u00a0and\u00a0live\u00a0out our faith without\u00a0sharing\u00a0it with others, we are not living out our faith with the zeal of the first apostles. To truly be new evangelizers, it is not enough to just focus on one of these areas. It is absolutely mandatory that we strive to grow in all three.<\/p>\n
Knowing that the new evangelization is something that applies to each and every Christian, how will you make it a part of your life?<\/p>\n
I suggest taking small, incremental, ongoing steps combined with a concrete game plan.<\/p>\n
A week from now, what realistic steps will you have taken to better know your Faith?<\/p>\n
A month from now, what are some tangible ways will you be more fully living out your Faith?<\/p>\n
A year from now, what would it look like for you to more successfully share your Faith with others?<\/p>\n
Writing down realistic goals and action steps ultimately has a snowball effect on how we know, live, and share our Faith. Though it may seem we\u2019re only making minor improvements each day, week, month, and year, over time our incremental efforts build upon each other, making our Faith more exciting, engaging, and life-altering.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your game plan? Given how basic the new evangelization truly is, what steps will you take to become a new evangelizer?<\/p>\n
*Like this list of ideas? \u00a0For an entire year of ideas for knowing, living, and sharing your Faith, pick up a copy of\u00a0The New Evangelization and You: Be Not Afraid<\/a>.<\/p>\n