Imagine standing at the edge of an uncharted path, uncertain of what lies ahead. You’ve heard whispers of its beauty, tales of those who have walked it before, and the promise that, despite the challenges, it leads to something greater than you could ever imagine. But hesitation lingers—what if the journey is too difficult? What if the cost is too high?
Many have asked these same questions before stepping into the greatest adventure of all—following Christ. At first, His invitation may seem paradoxical. “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30), He assures us, yet in the same breath, He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). How can both be true? How can a cross—a symbol of suffering—lead to freedom?
The Paradox of Christ’s Call
The answer lies not in the weight of the cross itself but in who walks beside us. The burdens of the world are heavy, filled with guilt, shame, and the relentless pursuit of fleeting happiness. Yet the burden Christ offers is different—one carried not alone, but with the grace and strength that only He can provide.
As Pope Francis beautifully expresses, “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” (Evangelii Gaudium, 1). Saint John Paul II echoes this truth, stating, “The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ message” (Evangelium Vitae). To follow Christ is not to step into chains, but into a freedom unlike any the world can offer.
The Fear of Sacrifice
And yet, the hesitation remains. Sacrifice is never easy. To surrender control, to place faith in something greater than ourselves—this is no small thing. We may wonder, What will I have to give up? What will it cost me?
But what if we have been looking at it all wrong? What if the real cost lies not in following Christ but in walking away from Him? The world offers countless substitutes for joy, but none that truly satisfy. Jesus does not take away our joy—He restores it.
We are not asked to carry our crosses alone. The very One who calls us to take them up also strengthens our shoulders and walks the path beside us. The cross is not meant to crush us; it is meant to transform us. True joy is not found in avoiding sacrifice but in discovering the purpose within it.
A Joyful Mission
Something incredible happens when we stop seeing discipleship as an obligation and start seeing it as a privilege. The first disciples understood this well. They had encountered the Risen Christ, and they could not keep the Good News to themselves. Even when threatened, Peter and John boldly declared, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
When evangelization is rooted in joy, it becomes impossible to contain. If we view discipleship as a burden, our witness will be lifeless. But if we truly experience the joy of the Gospel, our passion will inspire others. What we have found in Christ is too beautiful not to share.
The Greatest Blessing
At the heart of it all, following Christ is not about loss—it is about abundance. The path may require sacrifice, but it is paved with grace, love, and the assurance of eternal joy. Christ does not call us to mere hardship; He calls us to transformation, to holiness, to a life that is richer and deeper than anything we could create for ourselves.
And the best part? We do not walk it alone. Every step is accompanied by the One who has already conquered the journey, who carries our burdens, fills us with peace, and leads us into the freedom of divine love.
The Invitation
So here we are, standing at the edge of the path once more. The choice remains ours. Do we turn away, clinging to what is familiar, even if it leaves us unfulfilled? Or do we take that first step of faith, trusting that what lies ahead is greater than anything we leave behind?
For those who dare to follow, the reward is beyond measure. The joy of Christ is not a fleeting emotion but a life-altering reality. Will you take the step?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You. In moments of doubt, remind me that Your path leads to true freedom and joy. When I hesitate, give me the courage to trust in Your plan. Strengthen my heart with the assurance that You walk beside me every step of the way. Fill me with the joy of Your presence, that I may be a light to others, sharing the Good News with passion and love. Transform my heart, Lord, so that my life reflects Your grace, and my words proclaim Your truth. Lead me ever closer to You, and let me always remember that true fulfillment is found not in my own will, but in surrender to Yours. Amen.
Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Email: pierre.alain.giffard@gmail.com
Book on parish revitalization and gowth:
- BOOK – Revive and Thrive: Transforming Parishes into Mission Driven Communities provides a blueprint to breathe new life into parish communities and engage in the core principles of evangelization and disciple-making.
Articles on evangelization and parish revitalization:
- A Prayer for God’s Miracles in Every Situation
- Visions, Prophecies, and Divine Messages: A Call for Discernment
- Key Takeaways for Evangelization
- Grace and Common Sense
- The Message of Jesus: An Invitation to New Life
- Planting Seeds of Faith and Hope
- Go Forth with Joy: Faith That Inspires
- A Virtuous Circle of Evangelization
- The concept of the “Good News”
- Love as the Heart of Church Life and Mission
- The Spirit of Spiritual Conversation: A Path to Transformation
- Prayer for When We Feel Lost
- How to Share Your Faith with Others
- Love and Time
- Evangelization: Sharing the Joy, Peace, and Hope of Christ
- Priestly Leadership in Evangelization
- Café evangelization at the University of Mary Washington
- Evangelization: A Living Testament of God’s Love
- Living in The Joy of The Gospel
- In The Beginning Was the Word: The Primary Role of Scriptures in Evangelization
- One-Phrase Evangelization
- Asking Each Day for the Grace to Help Someone
- The Parish as an Expression of God’s Love for the World
- If no one speaks, no one will know
- Evangelizing Through Healing: Manifesting God’s Loving Presence
- The Parable of the Wise Landowner
- Extraordinary Signs in Extraordinary Times
- The Evangelizing Message of Medjugorje
- The distinction between proselytism and authentic evangelization
- What God Needs from Us Is Love, Reconciliation, and a Spirit of Forgiveness
- Evangelization: A Collaborative Mission of Love
- Prayer and Service that Finds Favor With God
- The Transformative Power of Love
- The Evangelization Power of Prayer and Love for God
- Everyday Evangelization
- Every Act of Love is Evangelization
- Loving Jesus and Making Him Loved
- Embracing a Lifestyle of Worship and Praise
- A Prayer for Divine Healing and Restoration
- Factors That Have Proven to Attract People to Christ
- Evangelization: Finding Life and Giving Life
- The Eucharist: Source And Summit of All Evangelization
- Practical Steps for Reaching the Unchurched
- Bible Sharing Guide for Small Groups: A Synodal Approach
- Bringing People to Christ by Inspiring Love and Praise for God
- Proclaiming God’s Word: A Sacred Call
- From Decline to Renewal: The Transformation of New Life Church–Farmington
- The Church’s Social Doctrine and Evangelization
- Kindness: A Christian Perspective
- How to Bring Someone to Christ
- The Ultimate Purpose of Human Life – Glorifying God
- From Near-Death to New Life: A Rural Church’s Revitalization Journey
- Evangelization simply: “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
- Revitalization of Rural Churches
- Attracting Converts to the Catholic Faith
- Addressing Low Attendance in Churches
- Fostering a Sacred Atmosphere during the Sunday Mass
- Prayer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit
- Jesus is Thirsty for Souls
- Praying And Sharing The Good News With God’s Redemptive Names
- Embracing the Call to Evangelize
- What is Most Pleasing to God? Bringing Souls to Christ
- The Growth of the Church of the Nativity (Fr. Michael White)
- Deliverance Prayer, by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti (AUDIO – mp3)
- The Growth of Saint Benedict Parish (Fr. James Mallon)
- Five Pillars of the Christian Life
- Encountering Christ: The Path to Transformation
- What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?
- Unleashing The Evangelization Potential of Your Parish
- The Ultimate Goal of Evangelization
- God’s Longing for Love and our Mission to Make it Known
- A prayer for those whom we wish to encounter Christ
- Memorable Sundays
- Fr. Bedard’s Three-Step Blueprint for Evangelisation
- Guide for The Missionary Transformation of Parishes
- Divine Encounters: A Practical Guide for Small Evangelization Groups
- The Missionary Transformation of Sant’Eustorgio Parish
- Creating Vibrant Faith Communities: Insights from ‘Excellent Catholic Parishes’
- Sharing The Gospel According to People’s Needs And Receptivity
- A Prayer for Inviting Others to Evangelization Meetings and Services
- Welcoming Church Guests and Visitors: Dos and Don’ts
- Various Dimensions of Evangelization
- The True Measure of Success
- Pope Francis on Evangelization
- Revitalizing the Rural Parish for Mission
- Factors Leading to Christian Conversion
- Evangelizing Through Random Acts of Kindness
- Questions To Start Spiritual Conversations
- Three Feet From Gold
- Spreading the Gospel One Act at a Time
- Gather, Witness and Invite
- Prayer to Receive the Spiritual Gifts of The Holy Spirit
- The Language of Evangelization
- Key Factors for Parish Growth According to Rich Birch
- How to defeat Satan?
- Bringing Love, Hope and Healing Through the Gospel
- Love: Our Fundamental Vocation
- Touched by the Master
- A Man, a Dog, and the Ultimate Love
- The essence of evangelization: Loving God and our neighbours
- Loving Our Enemies and Reconciling with Others
- A Powerful Prayer for Healing: You Are The LORD Who Heals Me
- Living a Life of Love: Mother Teresa’s Legacy
- Living a Life of Love: Lessons from the New Testament
- In The Shadows Of Darkness, A Powerful Force Is At Work
- 19 Pastoral Orientations for Parish Renewal and Growth
- The Missionary Renewal of Catechesis
- Characteristics of missionary parishes
- Powerful healing prayer attributed to St. Padre Pio
- We are called to share our faith with others
- Should we seek to grow the Church?
- Find a Need and Fill It – Revealing God’s Heart in the Community
- 15 Habits to Evangelize on a Daily Basis
- The Church’s Mission
- Three Barriers to Building An Invitational Culture In Your Parish
- The Relational Evangelizer
- Doing Church at Home
- The Blind Girl
- A Group of Frogs
- The Elephant Rope
- A Shared Faith is a Growing Faith
- In The Shoes Of The Unchurched
- Parish Evangelizing Cells
- Six Unique Features of Missional Parishes
- Steps Towards Becoming A Missional Parish
- What Is Evangelization, And How Should It Be Carried Out?
- Discussion And Self-Assessment Questions For Parish Evangelization
- A Missional Church Is A Church That Prays
- The Jesus Prayer: A Method To Pray At All Times
- What can help children raised Catholic continue practicing the faith as adults?
- An Example of a Missionary Parish: Phoenix First Assembly of God
- Satan’s Tactics
- Learning to Be a Missionary
- When we cry out to God, he answers
- Presence and Proclamation
- Saving those who are lost
- Saint-Nazaire Parish: The story of a missionary transformation
- Small Groups and Evangelization
- Evangelizing By Inviting People To Receive Jesus As Lord And Saviour
- You Will Receive Power…
- Have You Heard About the Law of Three Hearings and Seven Touches?
- Three Habits of a Fruitful Christian Life
