EVANGILAZATION
In the Gospel of Luke, we find the story of the Road to Emmaus. After the disciples walk with Jesus down the road, they invite him to share a meal with them (although at the moment, they do not know it is Jesus). So Jesus sits with them and in the breaking of the bread and blessing of the wine, the disciples realize that Jesus had indeed risen and was in their very presence. After Jesus disappears from their site, the apostles look at each other and say one of my favorite verses in Scripture,
"Did not our hearts burn within us
while He was speaking to us on the road..."
(Luke 24:32 NASB)
Before their encounter with Jesus, the disciples' hearts were heavy and troubled, but after their realization of Christ's presence in that present moment at the table, their hearts were filled with joy and zeal for what they had just seen. They ran back to town and spread their joyous news of what they just experienced and who they just sat with!
WE ARE CALLED TO THIS SAME ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST!
As a Catholic Church, we should all live with a zeal and fiery passion in our hearts for the will of the Lord! Just as Jesus, in this story, revealed himself to his disciples through the Scripture and through the Breaking of the Bread, he does the exact same for us at every single Mass.
My challenge for you is this:
IS YOUR HEART BURNING WITHIN YOU?
Let us together fan that flame within our parish community so that as Saint Ignatius of Loyola said, we will "Go forth and set the World on fire!"
Together let us strive with a fiery passion to see, think, and live like Jesus!