IN FOCUS - COME BE MY LOVE | KAIROS GLOBAL | SEPTEMBER 2019

Author: Anil Israel

Intro: Anil Israel offers a fresh perspective on cooperating in the Great Commission that Christ gave us – to preach the Good News.

A common picture that pops up in people’s mind when they hear the word ‘Evangelization’ is usually that of a person holding up the Bible high and proclaiming at the top of his voice the ‘Good News of our salvation’ - somewhat equivalent to what Jonah was called to do for the people of Nineveh.

Over the years, I have also learnt of what our patron St. Francis of Assisi often said, “Preach the Gospel at all time and when necessary use words.” So, word-of-mouth is not the only way the Good News ought to be proclaimed. This might give solace to many of us who might feel disheartened at not being able to contribute to the mission of spreading the Gospel, either due to our reluctance or because of the lack of confidence in uttering the truth of the Gospel when a situation demands. Of course, we who were privileged to encounter the risen Christ, must stand for ‘Truth’ and not be a silent spectator whenever the Spirit prompts us to be an active instrument for His Kingdom.

Why is it necessary to participate in this Holy Mission? Every baptised person inherits the right to be a child of God and a duty to co-operate in the ‘Great commission’ - “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20). Moreover, the ‘church exists in order to evangelize’ (Evangelli Nuntiandi, 14). And being members of the Church – the Mystical body of Christ, each one of us has a unique role to play. If one of the organs of the body chooses to refrain from doing its part in the functioning of the body, the body would not be at ease – it would show symptoms of disease. Likewise, we too ought to respond to our call to be an active and living member of the Church and contribute to the mission of the Church in our own unique way. The Jesus Youth movement – a missionary movement at the service of the Church – helps us adequately in exercising this response.

I have also come to understand that Evangelization is all about sharing the love of Jesus. When we look at it in these terms, it becomes easy for us to embrace the call. We are once again reminded of the fundamentals of our Catechism – what am I here on Earth for? I am created in the image and likeness of the God who is Love (1 Jn 4:8) and am called to obey the two Greatest Commandments of Love – to love God above all and to love our neighbour as ourselves. In other words, I am called to be His Love in this world.

St. Teresa of Lisieux exclaimed, “My vocation is love. In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be Love!” Mother Teresa of Calcutta also said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Speaking about Missionaries of Charity, she expressed, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” She has inspired millions of hearts all over the world, including mine. I personally have been motivated by her to be a little instrument just like she says, “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

In fact, we are all called to be instruments or channels of Love. The extent to which we allow ourselves to be used by Him for His glory, we fulfil His plan in our lives. I need to ask myself each day, “Am I being the face of His love in this world? Am I being the drop of love I am called to be? Am I truly a drop in the ocean or is the ocean missing the tiny drop I am meant to be?” 

How can I be this drop of love? Pope St. John Paul II asserts “The witness of a Christian life is the first and irreplaceable form of mission” (Redemptoris Missio, 42) The first form of evangelization is witness. By consciously choosing to imitate Christ, by living an authentic Christian life – we too can contribute to the mission of evangelization by our witnessing lives.

Scripture strongly emphasizes, “If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen.” (1 Jn.4:20) Our love for our fellow brethren is therefore a proof of our love for God.

Jesus too reiterates this in the Gospel, “If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (Jn 13:35) Thus, loving one another is an essential criterion to be a true disciple. Only by living a life of love, can we live a witnessing life and attract others to God who is Himself the source of Love. There are four Gospels in the Bible and we are all called to be the fifth Gospel. We may be the only Gospel that some people will ever read. I must be the love (of Christ) I wish to see in the world. ‘If not me, then who; if not now, then when; if not here, then where?’ Can you hear Him whisper, “Come be my Love”?

Anil Israel is a computer engineer by profession living in Mannheim, Germany with his wife Sunitha and their 5 children. He has been involved with Jesus Youth since 1999 and is currently the National Formation Coordinator of Germany.