CEC SUNDAY MESSAGES 2015

Dear Sr. Margaret,

Peace of Christ!

Every year, we celebrate the Catholic Enquiry Sunday in the month of July for three specific reasons. First of all, to remind ourselves of the great responsibility entrusted to all of us by Jesus Christ to share our Christian faith with others. Secondly, to invite those who are directly collaborating with the activities of the Centre to recommit themselves to continue their commendable ministry. And thirdly, to give an opportunity to those who have embraced the Christian faith to come and experience personally their fellowship with the believing community.

St Paul tells us: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord… “(2 Timothy 1:7-8). Every believer possesses a powerfully inspirational experience in the narrative of his or her life. Sharing our faith experience with others is an integral component in living out our own faith. Our individual faith experience makes up the greater story-the story of God’s redeeming of his people for himself. Sharing our faith experience with others encourages them while God also uses us to convert those who are yet to believe in him.

The most valuable way for us to share the best thing that has ever happened to us is by telling our experience of God, our testimony, in a firsthand account. Let us recall the words of St. John: “What we have heard, what we have seen in our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the word of the life; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life.” (1 Jn. 1: 1-2)

We should never feel shy to share openly our faith with our family members and friends, especially how our life has changed since we gave our life to Christ.

When we share our faith with others in a non-threatening way, they become more receptive and are ready to accept our sharing. We should joyfully and enthusiastically explain to them who Jesus Christ is and the personal difference he has made in our own lives. When we give evidence of how the power of God has transformed each of our lives, we illustrate one instance each of the miracle of salvation. People are looking for evidence that God exist and that he is personally involved in each one’s life.

More than a formula or technique, evangelization is a way of living-being available to God in the opportunities he gives us. Our faith experience is an important tool in the hand of a mighty God; it can help others understand how God is also working in their own lives.

How can we share Christ with a stranger? Only by meeting them personally and initiating a dialogue with them. Jesus shared the good news with tax collectors, adulterers, well-educated leaders, little children, physically impaired men and women, and common laborers by meeting them and talking to them. He often begun his conversation by asking questions and then he listened carefully to the answers given. The Gospels are full of such incidences that motivate us to follow the good examples of our divine Master.

Sharing our faith experience is very simple. We should just tell people with conviction how God, through the myriad ways, is at revealing himself and calls individuals to himself. When people see our own simple, honest, sincere Christian and Religious life, they are automatically drawn towards God, because the spirit of the god is at work, both in us and in them. Besides, we should also pray that God will use each one’s life in ways we never thought possible to attract others to himself!

My prayer and my hope is that all of us will continue being bearers of Jesus Christ and his eternal message, even when there are threats and oppositions to us. Jesus is always with us, and so we need not be afraid! Let us generously our Christian faith and hope, by bearing witness to God’s love through our exemplary Christian life.

I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your dedicated and voluntary service to the CEC. My special thanks to Sr. Clare, the former Directress, for her commendable service to the Center and to the Archdiocese.

May Mother Mary, our model and guide, continue to guide us as we plan and implement the active of the Catholics Enquiry Center for the spiritual benefit of those who long know about her beloved son, Jesus Christ.

With best wishes and God’s blessings,

Most. Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras
Archbishop of Bangalore Back