"Evangelization Is An Eye-Heart Connection"

Evangelization is an eye-heart connection . . . I hope that it is a catchy enough title to encourage you to read on? I could have asked for an ear-heart connection, but unfortunately, we will have to depend upon each other's vision in order to connect at all. Since prayer unites all senses to the heart and eventually to God, let us begin with a vision that only you and I can experience, and let us call it a personal scripture journey according to the heart.

Imagine this as you and I stand upon the shore of a very rough sea . . .Look! Isn't that Jesus hovering over the water? Looks like Jesus! Ohmigoodness! Isn't He beckoning us to come to Him? If I help you and you help me, we could climb into that rowboat over there and go to Him. Let's try, shall we? As we row closer, Jesus says, "Climb out of the boat and walk upon the water directly to Me!"

EXCUSE ME? Can we do it? SURE WE CAN!

I will help you and you will help me.To our surprise, we find ourselves hovering over the water just like Jesus. Do we walk to Jesus? No! We run to Jesus, and when we meet Him, He embraces us with love and affection. Does He say, stay and walk on the water with Me forever?

I don't think so! Instead, He walks us back to the boat and gently helps you and me climb in. Then He points to the shore and says, "Ite missa es," which means, "Go, you are sent!" Imagine that! We are sent to go and make disciples. And, just how do we accomplish that?

My friends, the answer is within the testimony and experience of people who share in the rowboat-of-life experience. You and I will be writing the books on evangelization by what we do and how our parishes respond to the call to "go and make disciples." Where are we sent? How do we respond? What do we have to offer? All these questions encourage a clearer vision when rooted in prayerfulness. That is where evangelization begins--eye, ear, mouth and heart connected to God.

Evangelization --- I know it works, because I pray to live it everyday. At Church of the Holy Spirit Parish in Highland, the warmth and welcome are contageous. The Gospel message is lived, shared and embraced within our daily lives as we encourage church activity and open our doors to all. The congregation, as well as visitors, recognize the openness and fervor within our church. They even experience peacefulness before they meet anyone. How?

I am convinced that prayerfulness and God-connectedness are actually stuck in the walls and ceiling of our building! There is so much love of God within our parish family that I am sure the effects of prayer and God's returning graces create a holy place called church. And from that holiness we are nurtured, fed and sent to share the Good News!

Why, then, is evangelization experienced so intimately at some parishes and limited in others? The key word in this question is limited. Do we choose to limit the call from Jesus? Responses from other parishes indicate to me that evangelization may not go beyond the congregation's vision statment. This approach fulfills an obligation, but limits the call to discipleship. I can't help but compare this scenario to a parish dedicated in charity.

Imagine charity-in-action limited only to a mission statement, an occasional homily on the needs of the poor, or better yet, biographies of charitable namesakes that grace the door posts. No! Charitable churches like St. Vincent De Paul Parish in Pontiac and St. Dominic Parish in Detroit live the Gospel message of charity through the extending hands and hearts of brothers and sisters who feed the poor, shelter the homeless and clothe the needy. The mission of evangelization-in-action is the same!

Evangelization is not "I" centered, but Christ and community centered. To become an evangelizing parish, we must seek and invite a response from those called to discipleship. Just as the charitable parish invites volunteers for their soup kitchen, we need to invite and awaken the call to evangelization.

Where are the hands and hearts of those called to evangelization? Look around your church and find the people who "glow" with the love of God in their hearts and ask it they want to serve as ministers of welcome. Then, watch as evangelization blossoms from a mission statement within parish goals and objectives, into living realities of discipleship!

We share in the rowboat-of-life experience on our journey of faith. We are not isolated, but in community with each other through an eye-heart connection---a connection revealing the vision God has for us, as well as for the Body of Christ. At baptism, God gave us the Holy Spirit as the light we need to guide us.

Church of the Holy Spirit is only one examplle of an evangelizing parish. It is a working, established model that continually seeks a deeper understanding of ministry, and the responsibility we all share as the family of Christ. By no means a finished product, the ministry works and has promise for the future.

How does each parish offer a portion of itself toward a united vision of evangelization for the Archdiocese of Detroit? We climb out of the rowboat-of-life and trust what we know in our hearts. Then, you help me and I'll help you on our journey of faith. Together we create evangelization and respond to discipleship through the power of prayer as sojourners who listen to the guidance and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Our united prayer need only be, "Holy Spirit, give us the key to our NOW!"