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Brian: Men, do we really
understand what the New
Evangelization is or what
our role is in it?
I'm Brian Patrick.
The New Evangelization must
be about the Person of Jesus
Christ.
We need the power of the
Holy Spirit to be effective.
"The New Evangelization: Our
Mission" this time on
"Crossing The Goal. "
(music)
Brian: We're kicking off
our show on "The New
Evangelization: Our Mission. "
I'm Brian Patrick with the
"Crossing The Goal" team;
Vice-President of Renewal
Ministries, Peter Herbeck;
Founder and President of
FOCUS, Fellowship of
Catholic University
Students," Curtis Martin;
and our All-Pro Wide
Receiver and NFL Coach
Danny Abramowicz.
As we look at "New
Evangelization; Our
Mission," Curtis, let's
really look at the mission
of FOCUS.
Curtis: Yeah, we try to work
with young people and to
make this as simple and
straightforward as possible.
So, we kind of view the
whole Christian life in a
3-step process.
First of all, we have this
profound encounter with the
Person of Jesus Christ and
He began to really change
our life.
As you've come to know Him
and begin to follow Him, we
enter into a discipleship
relationship.
We begin to think with the
mind of Christ and behave
with the character of Christ
because the Holy Spirit's
living within us.
Then, as we encountered Him
and then, entered into
discipleship, we raise up
disciple-makers who can go
out and do the same.
Peter: Yeah.
You guys have answered the
important question.
When Jesus said, "Go make
disciples," that's the heart
of evangelization.
A really important question
is, "What then is a
disciple?
What is it we're trying
to make? "
I think you guys have,
like many groups like FOCUS
around the world that are
beginning to emerge as part
of the new springtime of
Christian life, one of the
key elements besides
encountering Jesus is to
say, "Okay, now, how do I in
a new way of life, the way
of life Jesus wants me to
live? "
Danny: It's one thing to
read, study and talk about
evangelization.
It's another thing to put an
action plan into effect.
I think that's what we're
trying to do with our
ministries here is to put
an action plan in.
Brian: So, "New
Evangelization: Our
Mission," and we have a
Game Plan for that with
Curtis and Peter coming of
next here on "Crossing
The Goal. "
(music)
(music)
Curtis: Hello, I'm Curtis
Martin.
I'm here with my good
friend, Peter Herbeck.
We are talking about,
really, the call of the
Church to a new
evangelization, which is
really a reminder of the
call of Jesus Christ to the
Church that we should be an
evangelical people.
In fact, in the most
authoritative statement ever
made in the history of the
world Jesus Christ says,
"All authority in Heaven
and on Earth has been given
to Me.
Go therefore and make
disciples. "
With all of His authority,
He tells us to "Go and make
disciples. "
This is at the heart of
what it means to evangelize
but what exactly is a
disciple, Peter?
Peter: That's a good
question.
Jesus said, "If you want to
come after Me"--that is a
way of saying, "If you want
to be My disciple"--"you
have to deny yourself, take
up your cross and then,
follow Me. "
Deny that drive within us,
the, the flesh in us, the
freedom we have to say,
"I'm going to go my way.
I'm going to define my own
reality.
I'm going to determine how I
will use my time, my talent,
my treasure the way
I want to. "
And you say, "No, I've now
encountered the King of the
Universe.
He's laid hold of me.
He's looking me right in the
eye and He's saying, 'Now,
come follow Me.
And if you want to do that,
here's the condition. '"
Jesus sets the conditions
of the relationship.
We don't.
I'm no longer in charge.
I laid down that whole false
idea about myself and you
see it expressed to the
Apostles at the time.
They say things, like
St. Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:15...
There's a switch there.
There's something that turns
dramatically and Jesus
expects that of every single
person that becomes a
disciple.
That's fundamentally what it
means.
Curtis: Yeah, and there's just
a simple principle that we
try to teach the young
people to work with and that
is that either Jesus is Lord
or not.
In other words, He's either
Lord of all or He's not Lord
at all.
This is an all or nothing
proposition.
We're not here to have a
conversation like equal
partners.
We've accepted His Lordship.
So, we ask a couple of
questions.
We realize that the, the
human soul is comprised of
an intellect and a will.
So, we sit back and say,
"Okay, if we're going to
follow Christ as His
disciple, then we, our
intellect ought to think
with the mind of Christ and
that's the work of the
Church, what we call
catechesis, the teaching of
the faith. "
And the other part is,
"Well, then I also have a
will.
So, I have to have the
character of Christ. "
So, it's the formation
into the virtues so I can
live with the character of
Christ by the power of the
Holy Spirit so that I begin
to become His followers.
That switch that you talked
about, that St. Paul
teaches in Corinthians is
taking place in our life
in a very practical steps.
We're growing in conformity
to the Person of Christ.
Peter: Oh, that's very well
said.
I think it's very helpful
because what we, you talk
so much about the encounter
with Jesus.
We encounter the Person of
Christ and what that means
is, through the proclamation
of the Gospel, though
testament or whatever, we
come to see, by the grace of
the Holy Spirit, the unique
Lordship and Majesty of
Jesus.
We get it.
We begin to get it.
Faith opens us up to that.
But then, Jesus invites us
to a disciplined pattern of
life because He wants to
change the way we see and
live, like you're saying.
So, Pope John Paul II
describes some of the
essentials of the life of
a disciple that might be
helpful when we ask
ourselves the question,
"Well, what does it look
like? "
Well, He said, "First it
begins with conversion, with
that encounter and I make a
decision.
I've got to make that
decision, 'Jesus, I know Who
You are and I submit my life
to You now. '"
And he said, when that
happens, the heart falls in
love with Christ and then
the Holy Spirit will lead
you to gather with others
whose heart have fallen in
Christ, lead you to
communion--the Communion
ultimately in the Church at
the Eucharist, at the Table
of the Lord.
That's where He wants to
take us but also, a deep
communion where I have
relationships with men and
women, brothers and sisters
in Christ together.
And he said, out of that,
out of that hothouse of
love of Christ will come a
passion for the truth--
which catechesis and what
you're talking about, good
formation which FOCUS is so
good at doing with people
and we need to be able to do
across the whole Church--
and he said, "Those 3 build
toward one fundamental
thing.
This is when you start to
reach maturity--you take on
the Master's mission.
You start having passion
for the lost.
Your soul burns.
You start thinking about
what's really important--
eternal souls and the
salvation of souls."
Curtis: Yeah, it's not just
that you have become a
disciple, but as you mature,
you become a disciple maker.
St. Paul, writing to
St. Timothy, one of his
disciples--St. Paul's
been a disciple of
Christ for many years.
He's taken Christ seriously
--not only encountered
Christ on the road to
Damascus but now he's been
a disciple and now he's
raising up disciples.
Now, he's turning to
Timothy, a man that he's
invested in and mentored for
years and he's telling them
to do the same thing.
In 2 Timothy 2:2, he writes
to him and says, "Timothy,
the things you've heard from
me, in the presence of many
witnesses, entrust these
things to faithful men who
can teach others also. "
In other words, "Do for
others what I have done
for you.
I didn't just allow you to
encounter Christ.
I raised you up and now I'm
calling you to bear fruit. "
Jesus has this amazing
statement in John 15:8.
He says...
Disciples bear fruit and
they glorify God.
Peter: Oh, that's good
stuff.
I mean, it's exactly what
it is.
All over the world, you
don't have to be a genius,
you don't have to go through
20 years of theology, you
don't have to be as bright,
as articulate as Curtis
Martin.
Curtis: Or as good-looking
as Peter Herbeck. (laughs)
Peter: All over, all over
the world I have met--in
the work we do working in 30
different countries--just
ordinary, everyday people,
men and women, some of them
don't even have an 8th Grade
education, who have been
touched by Jesus Christ,
encountered Him, come under
some basic formation in the
new way life and they've
gone out to make disciples
and they've made in some
cases hundreds, in some
cases thousands because
they've discipled people who
have discipled people.
We've seen it in China,
we've seen it in Africa,
we've seen it in Eastern
Europe but all over the
world.
It's just simply receiving
Jesus, obeying His plan and
following the grace of the
Spirit as the Church helps
and guides us.
Curtis: We're helping people
to become what they're meant
to be.
Peter, you and I, we have
the capacity to learn how
to swim.
We can learn to swim but
we weren't made to swim.
We were made with the
ability to swim.
The difference is, you and I
were actually made to be
saints.
We're actually helping
people to become what they
were meant to be.
St. Catherine of Siena says,
"If you become what you're
meant to be, you will set
the world on fire. "
That's the commission of
the New Evangelization, is
for men and women to come to
know Christ so intimately,
so personally, to be so
close to Him, He is a
consuming fire.
We catch fire with His love
and His truth and His mercy
so that we can then reach
the world and sent them on
fire.
Pope John Paul II said this,
"Now is the time to commit
all of the Church's
resources to a New
Evangelization."
Brian.
Brian: Thanks, Curtis and
Peter.
Bright and good-looking,
huh, Coach?
Danny: Yeah.
They must be blind in one
eye and can't see out of
the other. (laughs)
Brian: (laughs) I notice
they didn't refer to us as
distinguished and wise.
They'll learn.
All right, we'll do that
in the Red Zone next on
"Crossing The Goal. "
(music)
(music)
Brian: We're in the Red
Zone, "New Evangelization;
Our Mission," and Curtis,
where do we do this?
Where do we practice this
evangelization?
Curtis: Well, the powerful
thing about the New
Evangelization is, a
handful of people are going
to be called to go overseas
and things like that but
this is a call for everyone.
So, we want to be able to
recognize that as we
encounter Christ and have a
radical transformation in
our own lives, we then live
our lives where we already
are.
We're asked the question,
"Where do I evangelize? "
I evangelize in my home,
in my neighborhood, in my
parish and in my workplace
because that's where we
spend time, in those 4
places.
Danny: And I think most of
us is in the family and it's
usually the most difficult
to do it.
As I reflect--I'm a
grandfather and have 4
grandsons.
So, I've got to evangelize
them and I try to do that by
Church and the example that
I do and invite them to go
to church.
But they get involved with
sporting events and all
these other things but also,
be a part of their spiritual
life.
But more importantly is
our adult children.
It's a sensitive issue
because a lot of young
adults are not attending
Mass and it's killing
parents and grandparents
because it will affect
the grandchildren.
So, I thought about this
and prayed on it.
So, I invited, several years
ago, my sons and my
son-in-law and my brother to
go on a retreat and they
agreed.
I said, "I'll pay the tab.
We'll do this. "
It had a profound effect
on them.
They went to Confession, and
we had a chance to talk
together in ways that we
wouldn't out in the world
because they're all busy
raising families, working
and stuff like this.
Now, we're in our 3rd year
and they can't wait to come
back again and the numbers
have increased.
My cousin has come, who's
been away from the Church
for 30 years.
It was last year.
He was on fire.
He's invited his son.
So, it's not a big
complicated...
You need to just take time.
Figure it out.
Pray. Ask the Lord to
guide you and He'll
guide you in that area.
Peter: Yeah, and I think
that's the key.
I think, I think wherever we
are; you might be listening
saying "I just have never
really done this in my
family and I'm kind of
intimidated.
I don't know what to do. "
I think we just need to
start with say, "Look, this
is the Lord's plan.
This is the Lord, His will
for us.
So, I can count on Him. "
Say, "Lord, I need Your
help. "
And you and your wife get
together and begin to pray
together just the 2 of you
and say, "Holy Spirit, help
us learn how to evangelize
our own children.
Help us to understand our
children, who they are and
how to communicate. "
So, as you start to pray
together as a couple, that
might be a big obstacle for
some guys.
"I've never prayed with my
wife before, other than
before-meal prayer or
something like that. "
Danny: It has to be in their
own life, right, Peter?
I mean, we can't give it out
without.
Peter: It helps to have
things like the "Magnificat"
or the rosary to pray
together or a set of things.
But really, the first step
is just in humility and
brokenness saying, "We
aren't really that good at
this and we're not sure what
to do but we know the Lord's
with us and He'll help us. "
So, begin to pray together
as, as a first step.
What other kind of practical
things can people do in
terms of evangelizing?
Curtis: I think one of the
things we want to be careful
of is to not lead with the
obligations.
The obligations are all true
--well, you're missing Mass
on Sunday and you really
should be going.
Yes, that's true.
But I wouldn't lead with
that.
The key thing is, they don't
have a relationship.
We should lead with the
relationship.
There are obligations in my
marriage but that's not I
think about.
"Well, I can't date other
women. "
Well, that's true, but
I just am thrilled to be
married to Michaelann.
I'm not worried about the
obligation.
We need to lead with the
relational aspect because
that will win people back.
So, don't get boxed in and
make people feel guilty.
Invite them to exciting
things, like retreats or
a speaker's coming in.
And have a sense of mission.
When we look at Jesus'
vision about
evangelization, it's
typically 180 degrees
different than ours.
We say, "well, I'd really
like to evangelize but I
don't think the people in
my life are interested. "
Jesus says, "Their fields
are ripe for harvest. "
They're more than ready.
What I don't have are the
workers to actually go out
and do something. "
So, do something with a
sense of hope and joy.
God will bear amazing fruit.
Peter: Yeah, He will.
Brian: And the invitation is
key.
Now, with an invitation,
when you invite someone, you
need to be willing to accept
a 'yes' or a 'no' but you
keep inviting them, kindly,
gently but keep inviting
them.
Don't give up.
Danny: Another thing is, it
doesn't always have to be
verbal.
When you go out here, it's
not only in our family, in
our workplace.
I was a player and a coach
in the NFL.
As a player, I was walking
in darkness and I wasn't a
good example.
I was a pretty decent
football player but as far
as a man.
Curtis: You were an all-pro
dude.
You were very decent.
Danny: Well, I don't know
about that.
But what I was saying, when
I got into coaching, my life
had changed and I was
walking the walk and guys
saw that, the players.
The guys would come up to me
and say something and the
same thing out in the
business world.
It's not so much what I say,
what Danny does.
Just like my wife and I, we
walk the walk.
We don't talk it a lot.
When we have an opportunity,
I do take the opportunity to
talk also but it's, how do I
live my life?
Am I living what we're
saying, you know and I'm
living the Gospel by
doing it.
Peter: Don't forget.
Don't forget; I think
sometimes Catholics, we let
ourselves off the hook to
say that we don't ever
have to say anything.
All I have to do is to live
right and that's all the
message.
The Catholic Church is
really clear.
It's both/and.
It's not either/or.
It's the witness of life.
So, out of a credibly lived
life I speak the truth of
why do you live the way
you do?
Well, because of...
Brian: And when people see
that.
When they see the way you
live, then they're going to
be willing to listen to your
words.
Peter: There's credibility
to your message, yeah.
Curtis: Do we feel that our
faith is good news because
we share good news
naturally.
If I went to a great
restaurant, I'd be saying,
"Hey man, Peter, you've got
to go check out this new
restaurant. "
I would not be saying,
"Peter, eat at this
restaurant or you're going
to go to Hell. "
I'm not going to judge you
for your--that's between
you--that's up to you.
Our job is to deliver the
Good News.
What our friends and loved
ones do with that news is
between them and God and we
should not take a 'no' as a
failure.
A 'no' is a delayed 'yes. '
They were made by God.
They were made for God.
At the right time if we keep
praying, they will respond
to His grace.
Danny: You said the key
thing is, "what's the
expression we have on
our face? "
It'd be like this; we're
going to play the Bears.
I'm the coach of the Bears.
We're going to play the
Packers.
(slowly) "Guys, we've got to
go out there and really get
them "Packers. "
(Curtis chuckles)
They say, "What's wrong?
Has Coach gone.?
Is he goofy?
What's wrong? "
(excitedly) "Go get the
Packers!
This is the biggest chance
of your life!
This is the biggest game! "
We're out there,
(flat voice) "I think Jesus
is a Loving, Wonderful,
Jesus. "
(Curtis laughs)
Or, (excitedly ) "Jesus means
everything to me!
This is my life!
This is how I live my life!
I love Jesus!
I want to show it in
everything that I do!"
When I wake up in the morning,
I ask Jesus, "Thank You,
Jesus, for another day!"
And go out here with a
smile on our face, a bounce
to your step!
That's what people will see,
a smile on your face!
Priests, you want guys to
become priests?
You're walking around with a
frown on your face.
Why would they want to
become a priest?
Put a smile on your face, a
bounce that this is the most
important thing!
When you say Mass, it's the
most important you do all
day long!
Brian: Too bad he doesn't
have any passion for this.
Peter: I wish you had some
conviction about this stuff.
It gets a little old, you
know.
Danny: I get tired of when
we walk around and you
wonder why people don't
follow us.
Brian: This is real, guys.
This is real.
Danny: We're walking with a
frown on our face!
It's not important.
Peter: Your face will show it.
If you're in love with
Jesus Christ and His Church,
your face, your face
will show it.
Brian: Even if they see
something they want.
Peter: Even in the
workplace, another way we
can witness and evangelize
is we all read in the
newspaper to see how many
times Catholic politicians
or other people have stood
up at crucial moments of
votes to stand up for
things, fundamental things
we believe in, like life
issues and they go the other
way.
Because for political
reasons or whatever and you
fail to witness to the
truth.
You don't have to preach
religion to people or preach
Catholicism.
You just stand up for the
truth because you know it's
true.
That's a witness of life
right there.
That's a way of evangelizing
that guys often don't do.
Danny: How many guys--and I
know a group of guys called
"The Monday Night Disciples"
in New Orleans and I think
you guys even mentioned--
they go to abortion mills
and they go outside and sit.
They don't say a lot of
words.
They just say the rosary.
They're evangelizing that
way.
There's all kind--they go to
the soup kitchen.
You can do all kind of
things that proclaim Jesus
Christ in your life.
You won't do that on an
ongoing basis unless you
have Christ in your heart.
You won't continue to
evangelize.
On college campuses, you
make sure that they're
praying they stay prayed up
on one another or they'll
fade and give up.
Curtis: And everything
you're talking about is like
an iceberg.
All of those are authentic
acts of charity, and service
and care are like the part
of the iceberg under the
water that provides all of
the ballast for it.
It's what can take down an
ocean liner if it hits it.
But the part above the water
that Catholics frequently
don't do, we have to
articulate our faith.
It is when the Church
articulates the pure content
of what it means to be
Catholic--"God loves you.
He loves you on your worst
day.
On your very worst day He
loved you infinitely and
would have gone to the cross
for you on that day to
offer the only sacrifice
that would ever have brought
you back into relationship
with God and He has, in fact
done that.
All you have to do is turn
to Him and accept that gift
and begin to follow Him and
you, you enter into a path
of salvation. "
That's the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
That's what leads us to the
Church.
Everything else in the
Church makes sense only with
Jesus at the center.
Peter: Curtis, why don't you
lead us in a prayer to do
that?
Curtis: I'd be, I'd love to.
Peter: For our listeners,
how about it?
Curtis: Let's pray.
"In the Name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen. "
All: "Amen. "
Curtis: "Father God, we
thank You because in great
love for us You sent Your
Son into the world.
Lord, we were separated from
You because of our sin, our
stubbornness, our errors,
sometimes even, Lord, our
open rebellion.
We were separated and in
fact, on our own power had
no way to come back to You.
But through Jesus Christ and
His death on the cross on
our behalf, Lord, You've
opened the doorway to
Heaven.
Lord, we want to turn to You
now and recognize that in
many ways we've been
prodigals.
We're coming back to You
now and asking for Your
forgiveness.
As the Father, the Good
Father received His prodigal
son back, we're asking that
You would receive us back as
Your sons and daughters,
that we could follow You,
accept Your Death and
Resurrection on our behalf
and begin to enter into
relationship with You.
Lord, not as equals but
where we accept You as Our
Lord, as Our Savior.
We will go where You lead
us.
We will do what You ask of
us.
We love You with all of our
hearts, Lord Jesus, and
desire to be faithful to You
for all of our lives.
We pray this in Christ's
Name."
All: "Amen. "
Brian: "In the Name of the
Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit."
All: "Amen. "
Brian: Thank you, Curtis.
"New Evangelization:
Our Mission. "
We're in the End Zone
next.
(music)
(music)
Brian: From the Red Zone
we move into the End Zone,
and I know you can see the
authentic desire to serve
Our Lord in the encounter
that these guys have had
with Jesus.
So, let's get the last word
on "The New Evangelization:
Our Mission," starting with
Peter Herbeck.
Peter: Yeah, Coach, I was
pumped up by that halftime
speech.
Danny: Yeah. (laughs)
Peter: Nice job! Let's go!
Let's go!
No, really, this is not just
pump up enthusiasm.
This is from the bottom of
our hearts, brothers and
sisters.
We hear the voice of Jesus
speaking right now to each
of us and to the Church.
It's time for all of us to
stand up and to engage the
mission of the Church, in
Jesus Christ and in the
power of His Holy Spirit.
That call's going out to
you, too.
Curtis: We're told in the
Scriptures that "God so
loved the world that He sent
His Only Begotten Son; that
whoever would believe in Him
should not perish but have
everlasting life. "
God's desire is to
transform each one of us, to
transform you, so that you
become the man or woman
God intended you to be.
If you become who you're
meant to be, you will set
the world on fire.
Go set the world on fire.
Danny: Men, if God can
change my life, anybody
has a chance.
God is calling you right now
to change, radical change
and to follow Him.
I don't care what way you've
been going.
It's time to stop, ask the
Lord to come into your
heart.
Make Him #1 in your life and
walk the path that He leads
you on.
Brian: And the best way to
sustain that change is with
a spiritual workout group.
We have an easy format and
all the resources at
crossingthegoal.com.
Check us out there and send
us an email if you'd like.
For Coach Danny Abramowicz,
Curtis Martin and Peter
Herbeck, I'm Brian Patrick.
Thank you for joining us
this time on "Crossing
The Goal. "
(music)