Evangelization can be intimidating, mostly because images of preaching the Gospel in mission fields or converting souls on street corners come to mind when we hear that word — evangelization.
But, Saint John Paul the Great reminds us that “the future of evangelization depends in great part on the Church of the home.”
Evangelization starts with the domestic Church, the family. It starts with spouses that will lead each other closer to Christ. It continues with marriages grounded in faith. It’s sharing our faith with our children. It’s teaching them about Truth and letting them witness our faith. It’s letting them see us go to Mass and Confession, where we admit our faults and humble ourselves. It’s living our faith with those around us. It’s walking with others when they are at their weakest. It’s having the humility to say, “I don’t know the answer, but let me get back to you.”
We don’t need to complicate it, but it’s also something that we can’t ‘phone in.’ We must be intentional in our own faith lives to intentionally lead our domestic Churches.
Evangelization is not something that only happens ‘out there.’ It’s happening right here and now...for all of us.