On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of fire on Jesus’ disciples.  The Holy Fire empowered them to become witnesses to Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

Before the ascension, Jesus told his disciples:  “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).  This is known as the  Great Commission.

Every Christian, by virtue of Baptism, is called to carry out the command of Jesus to share the Good News.  The Greek word euangelizo is used in the New Testament to mean “bringing the good news of salvation.”  When Latin became prominent, the word was translated evangelizo, which was later translated into English as evangelization.

Evangelization is a vital part of our Catholic faith.  Although the word may sound unfamiliar to us as Catholics, we have always known that we are called to share our faith.  It may seem much easier to maintain a low profile and blend in with the culture, but that is not what Jesus asks of us.  Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will set our hearts on fire with love for God .  To spread the Holy Fire, we must start with lives ablaze with love and the desire for deeper holiness.