Go Make Disciples

A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

In Matthew 28:18-20, we read: “And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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 lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." This is Jesus telling us to Go and Evangelize. The number of adults who attend Church services in USA is dwindling.

Our Current Situation (see link below)

“Today, through the ministry of the Church, Jesus continues to call all people to himself. It is estimated that only 23 percent of U.S. Catholics attend Mass each week. Those 77 percent absent from the Eucharistic feast each week are not strangers: they are our parents, siblings, spouses, children, and friends. According to a recent Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) study, the most common reasons given by Catholics who do not regularly attend Mass are not related to controversial issues. The reasons given instead point to a gradual slipping away from the faith. Most Catholics stop attending Mass because they (1) have busy schedules or a lack of time, (2) have family responsibilities, (3) have health problems or disabilities, (4) have conflicts with work, (5) do not believe missing Mass is a sin, or (6) believe that they are not very religious people. In other words, many of our brothers and sisters have simply drifted away from the Church. This is due in part to the busyness of modern life and to a changing culture. There are also Catholics who attend Mass on a regular basis but who feel unconnected to the parish community. The reasons for not attending Mass highlighted in CARA’s study also point to an increased secularization, materialism, and individualism.” 

It is evident that the above quoted text is aimed primarily toward the diocese, parishes, and parish resource people, such as Directors of Religious Education, Priests, Deacons, and those involved in Catechesis. Lay Catholics can help with the proper training (to be Catechists). Secular Franciscans can help through prayer, and action where appropriate.

There are, however a great many people, the active Catholics in each Parish, using Holy Scripture and (hopefully) the Catechism of the Catholic Church, who can spread the Good News and invite wayward Catholics back to the Sacraments. In addition, all of us can pray that this "New Evangelization" effort will succeed.

Unfortunately, in the past, Evangelization was left to the Priests and Deacons, and many Catholics still believe that the Church discourages the use of the Bible as a reference resource. This is no longer the case, and all Catholics are urged to Evangelize, and use all the resources at our disposal. Begin with those you know, your friends who have stopped going to Church (for whatever reason). If only we would all take a hand in this and invite our non-Mass going friends back to the Sacraments.

Secular Franciscans through their extensive formation, especially with the new formation material, can be most helpful in this regard. Let us become missionaries and spread the Good News, which was always our goal, but especially now that so many have fallen away or simple gone somewhere else.

God bless you!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

          April 17, 2012 rev. June 26, 2023

            USCCB quotations from: "Disciples Called to Witness" [ http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/disciples-called-to-witness/index.cfm ]

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