“YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CALLED TO SHARE THE STORY OF JESUS AMONG THEIR PEERS AND DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS… TO BECOME EVANGELIZERS”.

There are two important points in the topic:

• To share the story of Jesus among our friends
• Deepen the relationship with Jesus.

Before sharing the story of Jesus we need to have a deep relationship with Jesus. We come to know him through the reading of the Bible, with the help of our elders, listening to the sermons given by the Priests and also by attending catechism classes.

Mark 5:28 says, “If only I touch his clothes I shall be made well.” The lady had so much faith that she believed if she just touches the cloak of Jesus she would be healed of her 12 years sickness.

We need to strengthen our faith in Jesus who is always kind, compassionate and forgiving. In the modern era we are progressing ourselves scientifically and rationally and we are so obsessed with the materialistic world that often we tend to forget our moral values and virtues taught by our spiritual leader Jesus Christ who was the greatest, mightiest and humblest person on earth.

If we have faith in Jesus then anything asked will be given. Mathew ch-7,7 says, “Ask and it will be given, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you.” Same way we must continue to cultivate and nurture our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ just like a mustard seed. It has to grow and bear fruit which will benefit ourselves and others.
Standing firm and sharing the Word of God makes us evangelizers.

• As young people when we stand for truth and justice we confirm ourselves and others that we are true followers of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus himself said, that truth will set us free.
• Sharing of the Word can be done in many ways. Children like to watch movies. So if a movie like Passion of Christ is shown we can introduce the Word of God to them. The questions arising in their minds will help them to know more about the word of God. This will make them approach their elders and parents which in turn will raise questions in the minds of the parents. So with the help of spiritual movies we can share the Word of God to many families.
• Attending retreats and prayer meetings are other ways of deepening the word of God. I have the experience of attending retreats and have seen how people get healed through prayer and sharing of the Word of God. This has helped me to deepen my faith in Jesus.
• Sunday Mass and family prayer attended as a family will habituate the children to follow the footsteps of their parents which will go on for generations. Mother Teresa of Kolkata said, “The family that prays together, stays together.” My parents are quite strict in this practice especially my mother and I can say that the family prayer is a source of strength for us to be always faithful to God and obey his commandments.

We need to check our conscience to see whether we mean the word evangelism or is it a lip talk. Our relationship with Jesus gets watered down when our knowing and belief in Jesus shifts to others in our prayer walk life. It is then evangelism becomes lip talk. So, by faith we can share the word of God for the glory of God.
So, to become an evangelizer one needs to know Jesus, experience Jesus in one’s life and share that experience with others especially those who do not know about Jesus.
I am grateful to God for my Christian faith, I am grateful to my parents for bringing me up in a God-fearing family and to all my sisters and teachers who help me to know, love and belief in Jesus.
 Hope I have been able to convey the importance of sharing the Word of God by our lives and words and actions.
Thank you.