ARTICLE – Evangelization: Finding Life and Giving Life

August 29, 2024 by Pierre-Alain Giffard News, Recommended Texts

In the New Testament, the concept of life is central to the Jesus’ message, and it is intricately connected with the mission of evangelization. Evangelization, at its core, is not just about spreading a set of beliefs or doctrines; it is about offering the life that Christ Himself gives—God’s life. This life, often referred to as “zoe” in Greek, signifies more than mere biological existence. It is a fullness of life that comes from a deep, abiding relationship with God. Evangelization, therefore, can be seen as a process of finding this divine life and sharing it with others.

The New Testament on Life: What Is It and Where to Find It?

The New Testament offers profound insights into the nature of this divine life. In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes a series of declarations that reveal the source and nature of this life. One of the most powerful of these is found in John 10:10, where Jesus states, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Here, Jesus is not speaking merely of physical survival but of a life enriched by His presence—a life in communion with God.

The life that Jesus offers is rooted in the knowledge of God. In John 17:3, Jesus prays, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life, according to Jesus, is not just an endless extension of days but a quality of existence that begins here and now. It is a life characterized by knowing God intimately, a knowledge that transforms and renews every aspect of our being.

This life is made accessible to humanity through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. In John 11:25, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” This promise points to the reality that the life Jesus offers transcends physical death. It is a life that is victorious over sin and death, a life that is eternal.

Furthermore, this life is imparted to us through the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:11, Paul writes, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” The Holy Spirit is the one who breathes life into us, enabling us to live in the fullness of God’s life. It is by the Spirit that we are transformed and made new, entering into the life that God has destined for us.

The Eucharist, the Sacraments, and the Word of God: Sources of Life

This divine life is conveyed and sustained by the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, and through the Word of God. Jesus Himself taught that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will have life within them and will remain in Him. In John 6:53-54, He declares: “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” The Eucharist is, therefore, a privileged source of this divine life. Every time we participate in Communion, we receive Christ Himself, who comes to dwell in us and strengthen us in the new life we have in Him.

Moreover, the Word of God is another essential source of this life. Jesus affirmed in Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The Word of God is living and active, penetrating our hearts and transforming our lives, leading us to a deeper communion with God. By meditating on and living according to the Word, we are spiritually nourished and strengthened in our journey of faith.

Other sacraments, such as baptism, confirmation, and reconciliation, are also means by which God communicates His life to us and helps us grow in holiness. Thus, the sacraments are not merely external rituals; they are channels of divine grace through which God’s life is infused into our souls. Similarly, the Word of God is a living seed that, when received in an open heart, produces abundant fruits of eternal life.

Evangelization: Sharing the Life We Have Found

Once we have encountered this life, the natural response is to share it with others. Evangelization is, therefore, a sharing of the life that we have received in Christ. It is about leading others to the source of life and inviting them to partake in it. This process of sharing life is beautifully illustrated in the Acts of the Apostles, where the early Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, spread the message of Jesus with boldness and joy.

The Apostle Paul is a prime example of someone who found life in Christ and dedicated his entire being to sharing it. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul writes, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” Paul’s evangelization was driven by his profound experience of Christ’s love and life. He could not keep it to himself; he felt compelled to share it with others.

Evangelization, then, is not merely an obligation but a natural outflow of the life that we have received. When we have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord, we cannot help but invite others to experience the same. This is why Peter exhorts believers in 1 Peter 3:15 to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Our witness is a testimony to the life that we have found in Christ—a life that is full of hope, joy, and peace.

The Magisterium on Evangelization and Life

The teaching of the Magisterium reinforces this understanding of evangelization as sharing the life of God. In Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI emphasizes that the essence of evangelization is to bring the Good News to all strata of humanity, transforming individuals and societies from within by the power of the Gospel. He writes, “Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ’s sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection.”

Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, also speaks of evangelization as an invitation to share in the joy of the Gospel, which is the joy of knowing and living in the life of Christ. He states, “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew.”

The Magisterium thus echoes the New Testament’s emphasis on life as central to the Christian message and mission. Evangelization is not just about communicating ideas; it is about imparting the very life of God to others. It is about inviting others into the life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ, where they too can experience the fullness of life that only He can provide.

Conclusion

Evangelization is fundamentally about finding life in Christ and sharing that life with others. The New Testament reveals that this life is a gift from God, a life that is eternal and abundant, rooted in a deep knowledge of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Magisterium affirms that the Church exists to evangelize, to be a channel through which God’s life is communicated to the world. As we engage in evangelization, we are participating in God’s own mission of giving life to the world—a life that is truly worth sharing.

Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work

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