Evangelizing

6/6/2020

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

I fell in love with the letters to Timothy when I was a young youth minister. 1 Timothy 4:12 was my mantra, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for those who believe in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” Now today’s reading in Timothy reminded me of my call to evangelize. What a controversial thing to say!

Why controversial?

Most people don’t want to evangelize. They don’t want to step on someone else’s toes or judge them or offend or be embarrassed about their faith or be stuck answering a question that people don’t like the answers to. Christians get a lot of those. But, all that being said, we are called to evangelize. Honestly, we do it every single day! Maybe not about the faith, but I’m always sharing a podcast I liked on social media or telling a friend about this great pair of jeans I got at Target or bragging about a favorite restaurant or going on and on about a book I loved. I evangelize, or share the good news, about stuff all the time.

Why don’t I evangelize about Jesus all of the time? For some of the reasons Paul lays out in his letter to Timothy: For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. Those were the issues Timothy was facing in the 1st century. They sound remarkably like our issues today, don’t they?

We let inconvenience get in the way of evangelizing. We let others tell us what we believe. We let the world dictate the truth. At the end of my life I want to be able to say what Paul says at the close of this reading: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” I want to be with Our Lord in Heaven, wearing His crown of glory for a life well lived, a vocation embraced fully. Don’t you?

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

What are the things that stop you from sharing your faith?

How can you be more bold in witnessing to your faith with the people around you?

When Paul says he had finished the race, what do you think he was thinking of? At the end of your life, what do you hope the race of your life looks like upon looking back?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"I have run the race."

"Jesus, I trust in you."

"Come, Holy Spirit."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

In this difficult time, we will use our Action step each day to join with people around the world in praying for an end to the pandemic of the Coronavirus, for the healing of all those affected, and for the comfort of all those who have lost a loved one. The prayer below is from Archbishop José H. Gomez, President of the USCCB in his reflection and prayer during coronavirus:

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,
as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

Today's prayer was prepared by Katie Herzing, a former youth minister turned parish evangelization consultant living in North Carolina.

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM