Question 9.139

9.139 Following Paul VI, Francis likes to speak, in his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, about the sweet, comforting joy of evangelizing.

ROBERT CARDINAL SARAH

When a man communicates some good, it comes from his heart, like a source of water that spreads all around him. The good increases, the more he gives it. On the other hand, it is weakened if he refuses to share it.

The renewal of the faith and of Christian life exists only in mission. And this is a gift from God, who enlists us in his work of salvation. If the faith is communicated generously, it is strengthened because “one bears witness to the faith by handing it on”, as John Paul II often said, following Saint Augustine. Once the Gospel is spread to the four corners of the world, the Word of God shines like the rays of the sun to enlighten us so that we might reject the deeds of darkness. Joy abounds as much in the hearts of the heralds of the Gospel as it does in the hearts of all who open the doors of their life to Christ.

Unfortunately, the number of those who do not know Christ and do not belong to the Church is growing continually. It has almost doubled since the end of the Council. With regard to this immense crowd of people whom the Father loves and for whom he sent his only Son Jesus Christ, the urgency of missionary activity is obvious. The blessing of seeing the Church grow should be a central concern for every baptized person. Whenever the joy of evangelization is not the heart of Christian life, we can only deplore a worrisome symptom of spiritual dryness. The only authentic Christian flourishing lies in the offering and gift of self for the cause of the Gospel. For there is more joy in giving than in receiving: giving Jesus and his Gospel, calling the attention of all mankind to the mystery of Christ expands the heart of every Christian. Christ’s message does not belong to us; it exists in order to be offered to all mankind. To be fair, we must note also that the absolute number of baptized people in the world continually increases, and in certain countries the proportion of Catholics is even growing.

There are different levels in evangelization. We do not have to respond to the same thirst when strengthening the faith of baptized Catholics who have wandered from the Church as when the challenge consists of speaking about Christ for the first time to persons who do not know him at all.

Francis recalls that evangelization is part of the mandate that Christ has given to us. In his apostolic exhortation, he cites two important statements of Saint Paul: “The love of Christ urges us on” (2 Cor 5:14) and “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16). But the pope also explains that “in this regard, several sayings of Saint Paul will not surprise us” (EG 9). There are unquestionably countries where the words of the Apostle of the Gentiles are scarcely understood. . .