Evangelisation

Perhaps I should just focus on my work here in Australia, right here in my home, right now with my family – my brother, my Saint Simon Peter who lives in my own home…

The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew (Caravaggio)

I have been thinking about evangelisation.  It seems like such a black and white thing.  It seems like I am called to be an evangelist or not called to this.  After all, I am not able to be a missionary in China, Africa or the Middle East.  I am a working wife and mother in Australia, and I have spent most of my lifetime thinking that there is no opportunity for me to evangelise…

But I have been thinking about the first examples of evangelisation…  After all Saint Andrew was really the first evangelist.  And who did he evangelise?  Well, Saint Simon Peter – his own brother…

“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ).  He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter).” (John 1:40-42).

Saint Andrew did not go anywhere far – he just ran home, grabbed his brother and dragged him back to Christ, joyfully, excitedly…

And this is such a revelation to me.  You see, Christ told us to go out and evangelise…  “And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the labourer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if any one will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomor′rah than for that town.” (Matthew 10:7-15).

And it occurs to me today, that before Christ called the apostles to go out with no more than their own person for the journey, first He called them to evangelise their families.  And perhaps that is what God is asking of me.  After all, I have spent a lifetime making excuses about why I cannot get myself across to Africa to evangelise.  Perhaps I should just focus on my work here in Australia, right here in my home, right now with my family – my brother, my Saint Simon Peter who lives in my own home…

Perhaps?

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.