Go and Make Disciples...
Christians are a people who have a mission - Jesus has given us a work to do.
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples:
'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'. (Matthew 28:18-19)
This is often referred to as ‘The Great Commission’ and it is still the mission of the Church to fulfil this task - to make disciples.
In our times, this has been referred to as the ‘New Evangelisation’, the need to spread the gospel to a world that has increasingly never heard it proclaimed. This is certainly the case in the UK and in our own diocese. As Bishop Richard wrote:
‘The Church in this country finds herself in a very significant moment. Many have described society as ‘post-Christian’ or ‘post-religious.’ This presents the Church with both a challenge and a significant opportunity.’
It is Pope Francis’ dream that the Church would live out this mission.
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‘I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channelled for the evangelisation of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.’
Pope Francis
Evangelisation Means Friendship
If evangelisation is still an intimidating idea, another word for it would be friendship. Friendship is also at the heart of introducing people to the Christian faith, as Jesus asked us foremost to love others and to be open to journeying with them, as he did with his disciples. Pope Francis refers to this as the ‘art of accompaniment’. He writes that:
‘The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other. The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life … We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing.’
In really being open to walking with others, we allow friendship to grow, the Holy Spirit to move and the faith to flourish. English saint St John Henry Newman discovered friendship, or personal influence, as the primary way that the gospel spreads from person to person.
‘It [Christianity] has been upheld in the world not as a system, not by books, not by argument, nor by temporal power, but by the personal influence of such men … who are at once the teachers and the patterns of it … we shall find it difficult to estimate the moral power which a single individual, trained to practise what he teaches, may acquire in his own circle, in the course of years.’
Crowborough Community
Mission
The Parish is the core group in the life of the Church. It is the locus
of the Church’s celebration of the Liturgy, the group that is suited to
be the focus of identity, the focus for much formation and for
outreach to the wider community in social action and in
evangelisation.
The Word who is Life No 18.
Diocesan Pastoral Plan
May all the people of our Diocese grow in openness to the power of the Holy Spirit, so that through a growth in understanding and courage, and truly open to your call, we may bear powerful witness to all around us, for you are Lord for ever and ever, Amen
Spiritual formation
Formation in the Christian Life, at an ever-deepening level and at every age, is necessary. We are Christ’s instruments in a society that is in need of Evangelisation. (...) We must look to the future with renewed resolution and energy, growing
from ever-deepening prayer and aided by continuing growth in understanding.
Outreach
Mission calls us outward, beyond the safety of that with which we are comfortable. We are called to be more
closely conformed to Christ, that as His disciples we may bring the Good News to our brothers and sisters. This is a call that is made upon all the baptised, each according to their state in life, that we
may use the gifts we have been given at the service of Christ and of our brothers and sisters, both near and far.