In his homily at Casa Santa Marta, the pope said evangelization demands initiative and effort and recommended following three steps.
POPE FRANCIS
“'Get up.' Get up. 'Go there,' closeness and 'start with the situation,' the concrete reality. It's a simple method, but it's the method of Jesus.”
Pope Francis said the mission must reach the heart of each person, that theories are not enough, that he or she must get his or her hands dirty. Thus, he said one cannot evangelize from the couch.
EXCERPTS FROM THE POPE'S HOMILY
(Source: Vatican News)
“Just like the wind does with seeds from plants, it transports and sows them elsewhere, so also it happens here: they went elsewhere, with the seed of the Word, and they sowed the Word of God… From the wind of persecution, the disciples brought evangelization…. This is how the Lord evangelizes…. This is how the Lord wants us to evangelize.”
“And he begins saying: 'Get up and go.' Get up and go to that place. An 'armchair' evangelization does not exist. 'Get up and go.' It is always on the move. 'Go.' Movement. Go to the place where you must declare the Word.”
“Evangelization is not theoretical. Evangelization takes place person to person. The starting point is a situation, not a theory. [Philip] announces Jesus Christ, and the courage of the Spirit moves him to baptize [the eunuch]. Go beyond, go, go, until you feel that your work has been accomplished. This is how to evangelize.”
