There is, in fact, no difference between true Evangelization and a faithful Gospel Proclamation. In order to have a correct understanding of Evangelization, we have to go to the sources starting with Jesus Christ himself in the Gospels. Even at the very tender age of 12 years, Jesus asked questions to and listened from the Doctors of Law at the Jerusalem Temple. He always taught in the Temple precincts and Synagogues in such a way that people listened to him with pleasure. There was no imposition of ideas and doctrines, but explanations through parables and similes thrown at people as a sower would scatter seeds. It was up to the hearer of the Word to react in an appropriate manner and bear fruit. Jesus went about doing good and proclaiming the Kingdom of God in their Synagogues, open spaces, mountains, seashores, homes and wherever people used to gather. Jesus never wanted anything in return for the good he did and many a time he turned away people who wanted to follow him. For example, the man possessed by devils at Gerazene wanted to follow Jesus once he was cured. Instead Jesus makes him an emissary in Decapolis where people did not want the presence of Jesus because of the loss of their swine (See Mark, 5: 1-20). The injunction given to the man was to proclaim to the people what the good Lord had done for him and how he was shown mercy. This is a beautiful example of the proclamation of the Good News to be distinguished from fake cases of proclamations of miracle cures in circulation among us in many places. The essential difference between the genuine and the fake cases consists in the fact that the beneficiaries as well as the benefactors of the powerful acts of God always try to transfer all honor and glory to God without in any way directing them to themselves.
Again, we know the case of the Samaritan woman whose life was touched by Jesus and how she became an emissary of the Good News to the Samaritans (See John, 4: 4-26). When Jesus sent out his disciples two by two to preach the Gospel, he sent them out as dispossessed persons completely at the mercy of other people. The Apostles themselves were to go out and preach the Gospel like sheep among wolves. In other words, preaching of the Gospel is no propaganda and building up of power blocks in various societies, but a permeation of the society concerned like yeast in dough. It is a question of doing good to everyone without distinction of caste, creed, religion, gender and race. It is not mere social service, but self-giving where one is ready to sacrifice oneself for others in the manner of Jesus himself. This spirit of self-sacrifice is the distinguishing mark of a Christian missionary who wants to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Baptism understood as our incorporation to Christ is very much attuned to the spirit of Gospel proclamation. However, we must wait for people to seek explanation for the hope in us before proceeding to do the same. Unless the mind is open and God's graces start working in it, any attempt to confront persons with our explicit proclamation of the Good News may be construed as proselytization using coercion. It is not that we should be afraid of unfavorable reactions as we must always welcome opposition and resistance as signs of genuine proclamation of the Gospel. However, it should be done in the manner of co-operation with the graces of God given to the people touched by us. Thus the question of the baptism of a neophyte is not something to be rushed into, but should be the result of a process of understanding and acceptance. Baptism as dying and rising with Christ for continuation of his mission from the Father should be clearly explained to the neophytes before baptism. (To be Contd).
Again, we know the case of the Samaritan woman whose life was touched by Jesus and how she became an emissary of the Good News to the Samaritans (See John, 4: 4-26). When Jesus sent out his disciples two by two to preach the Gospel, he sent them out as dispossessed persons completely at the mercy of other people. The Apostles themselves were to go out and preach the Gospel like sheep among wolves. In other words, preaching of the Gospel is no propaganda and building up of power blocks in various societies, but a permeation of the society concerned like yeast in dough. It is a question of doing good to everyone without distinction of caste, creed, religion, gender and race. It is not mere social service, but self-giving where one is ready to sacrifice oneself for others in the manner of Jesus himself. This spirit of self-sacrifice is the distinguishing mark of a Christian missionary who wants to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Baptism understood as our incorporation to Christ is very much attuned to the spirit of Gospel proclamation. However, we must wait for people to seek explanation for the hope in us before proceeding to do the same. Unless the mind is open and God's graces start working in it, any attempt to confront persons with our explicit proclamation of the Good News may be construed as proselytization using coercion. It is not that we should be afraid of unfavorable reactions as we must always welcome opposition and resistance as signs of genuine proclamation of the Gospel. However, it should be done in the manner of co-operation with the graces of God given to the people touched by us. Thus the question of the baptism of a neophyte is not something to be rushed into, but should be the result of a process of understanding and acceptance. Baptism as dying and rising with Christ for continuation of his mission from the Father should be clearly explained to the neophytes before baptism. (To be Contd).
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