When Love is the Reason to Evangelise

Whenever the topic of personal evangelisation is brought up, chances are many Catholics would rather shy away. “I don’t know what to say,” “I’m not eloquent,” and “I’m not worthy to tell others about Jesus” are some common reasons given to explain why evangelisation is not their cup of tea.

Author: Cassilda Koh

When Love is the Reason to Evangelise

Not too long ago, a family member experienced a whole array of health issues. Just when we thought we had one issue under control, another would crop up without warning. The weeks became marked by appointments with the GP, mind-numbingly long visits to the polyclinic and even an anxiety-ridden rush to the A&E.

A friend caught wind of our predicament and immediately recommended my family member to see her physician. She helped fix the appointment, met us at the clinic, and even stayed throughout the visit. Thankfully we found the answers we needed through this physician. I went home that night and shared with another friend about my experience with this doctor. Interestingly, she told me that she had been in pain and had not been able to get any help. As I listened to her, I found myself enthusiastically encouraging her with much passion and gusto to procrastinate no further. Convinced, she went to see this physician the next day.

Truth be told on looking back, I was slightly embarrassed by my own lack of inhibition when announcing this “treasure” I had found. This did not seem like me. Of all the careers in this world, marketing and sales would be the death of me. So, what had emboldened me to respond in this way?

Just a single word: Love.

Love was what I felt from my friend who knew my distress and did everything in her power to get the help I needed. Love was what I wanted to convey when my friend told me she needed help. When love takes centre stage and becomes the motivation of what we do, we find ourselves taking risks and becoming bold. That is perhaps why scriptures tell us that perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

In the same way, what if we remember that good ol’ love is actually at the heart of evangelisation? Perhaps the act of telling others about the good news of Jesus Christ becomes less of a hairy affair or something to drag our feet on.

LOVE FOR GOD

The apostle Paul, sometimes termed the greatest evangelist, told the church in Corinth that it was the love of Christ that fuelled his passion to tell others about Christ (2 Cor 5:14). Coming face-to-face with God’s love on the road to Damascus, St. Paul became convinced that this saving love is available and must be made known to all.

When we have savoured the all-embracing love of Jesus and experienced the joy of new life in Him, we cannot help ourselves from pointing others to Jesus and wanting to make Him known. We want to tell others about Jesus because like the Psalmist, we too have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8), and we become utterly convinced there is no greater treasure apart from knowing Christ.

LOVE FOR NEIGHBOUR

At the same time, genuine Christian love cannot simply be limited to our relationship with God. It is also about our love for people. Mission, as Pope Francis describes in Evangelii Gaudium (EG 268), is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for His people. Jesus loved everyone till His dying breath, even those who refused to accept His love. In union with Jesus, we seek what He seeks and we love what He loves (EG 267). To love is to desire the best for the other. Because we are convinced that a life with Christ is not the same as a life without, we desire that others too will experience the saving power of a friendship with Jesus, even if at that moment they do not recognise their deepest yearnings can only be met in God.

My counselling lecturer in college once said something that has stuck with me – never doubt in the sufficiency of the good news of Jesus for any challenge and circumstance. Ours is a message that cannot disappoint even in the hardest of times and the deepest of sorrows.

JESUS IS OUR GREATEST PHYSICIAN

In this current climate of geo-political conflicts, where anxiety is all the more present, our greatest act of love and service as a believer is to share with others the good news of hope in Jesus Christ. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7). We are Jesus’ hands and feet, and His mouthpiece to the world. Empowered by God’s love, now is the time to cast aside all fear and boldly proclaim to all who would listen, the healing love of Jesus Christ, the greatest physician of all.

There is no greater treasure apart from knowing Christ.

This article is part of The WWWH of Evangelisation, a four-part series that explores the foundations of evangelisation. Continue the journey by exploring the other articles below.