We will spare no effort to awaken or to reawaken the faith in the people to whom we are sent, and we will help them to discover “who Christ is”
CC&RR, Constitution 7
Before his conversion journey, Eugene intellectually knew “who Christ is” – after 25 years of religious observance he knew his catechism. What happened at his conversion was that this knowledge became experiential. He entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ that would be the characteristic quality of the rest of his life.
Conversion did not mean getting to know about Jesus, but getting to know Jesus in a relationship that he became passionate about. From now on he would “act in everything and for everything” only for him and he would love him “above all else.”
What he received was so powerful that he was impelled to share it with others – particularly those whose situation made it difficult to come to the same knowledge. These were the poor for Eugene.
All who share in Eugene’s charism participate in the same dynamic of working to lead others to the same experiential knowledge of the Savior. Each in our own way, and in our particular circumstances, has this mission of helping others in this process.
It is noteworthy that the text says “we will help them to discover ‘who Christ is’.” Mission does not mean going to people to fill them with knowledge – it means journeying with them as they discover and deepen their understanding of the meaning of a relationship with Jesus. Eugene’s use of this phrase in the Preface speaks of helping people to understand that which Jesus Christ is for them (“ce que c’est que Jésus Christ”) – who he is in their lives and the meaning he gives.
“The Church is missionary by nature and her principal task is evangelization, which aims to proclaim and to witness to Christ and to promote his Gospel of peace and love in every environment and culture.” Pope Benedict XVI
I find myself sitting with each paragraph and my being responding. “Conversion did not mean getting to know about Jesus, but getting to know Jesus in a relationship that he became passionate about.” In truth I know very little, for the more I seem to know the more I realise that I don’t know – that is my mind. My heart though – it is my heart that has entered into relationship with Jesus and it is my heart that recognizes Him who is God. And the passion – well the passion to comes from the heart. And as I grow older the passion seems to move deeper even as it grows. Like a flame coming from a coal when it is first lit, but as it burns – it burns inward. Eventually the entire coal seems to shimmer – softer than when it flamed – but it is solid, steady and entirely molten – burning hot but not wildly as the very essence of the coal is transformed.
“What he received was so powerful that he was impelled to share it with others…” When we surrender to the love that is God, that we experience with and through Jesus, when we connect with the Cross and see through the eyes of our crucified Saviour (not all in that order or even in an instant for it seems to be always evolving with a flow and ebb) then we become ‘impelled’ – powerless to do anything other than share it with others for that is the nature of pure love. As Peter said “Lord there is no where else to go.”
“Mission does not mean going to people to fill them with knowledge – it means journeying with them as they discover and deepen their understanding of the meaning of a relationship with Jesus.” This perfectly captures my own personal experience of how I am with others. To be able to journey with another, with others – that is what happens when the heart surrenders and love breaks free – this is evangelizing and being evangelized.