If we had a magic power to change the world, what would we change? Would we stop world hunger, violence, abortion, terrorism, improve the economy? What would we change? Rich people use their wealth to support the programs they believe it. Celebrities speak out for the things they believe in. If we had a magic power, shouldn’t we use it to make the greatest impact, the best possible good? (See Matthew Kelly, Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic, 143).

We have a natural desire to do the best and want to help as many people as possible. So what’s the best way to change the world?

Jesus’ last command in today’s Gospel from St. Matthew is the answer: “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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

Here’s the point: the best thing we can do for the world is to evangelize. It doesn’t mean forcing people to become Catholic, or preaching in some strange way, acting like a nut, being on TV telling people they’re going to go to hell (though that sounds like a lot of fun!).

It means bringing other people to Jesus because there’s no one like Jesus, who gives life, is truth, is love itself); it means helping them to know God, who loves them unconditionally, shows them the meaning and purpose of their lives, and offers eternal life.

Eternal life—what’s more important than that? Remember the image we used on Easter Sunday. The universe is 13.7 billions years old and our life compared to that is one second. And 13.7 billion years is a second compared to eternity. Without Jesus, there is no eternal life. He himself says so: “No one comes to the Father, but by me.” (Jn 14:6). He came to save the world, not to condemn it, and He shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins.

I love the Catholic Church, because it was she who introduced me to Jesus. She gives me His teachings unadulterated (other churches don’t do this). She gives me Him, in the sacraments (Confession changed my life and the Eucharist is everything to me).

Matthew Kelly talks about the genius of Catholicism. It was she who broke through the class barrier of education, invented hospitals, universities, the scientific method (Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic, 146); she’s the strongest voice against abortion and the largest health-care organization in the world.

Allen Hunt, a former pastor of a Methodist mega-church who became Catholic, says that today the Catholic Church will feed more people, clothe more people, house more people, and educate more people than anyone else. When the earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, vocal atheists started a fund to help people, but the Church had already been there for years; there was no atheist hospital there (“Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor,” Track 4, 2:00).

We got all these wonders from Jesus, because He inspired everything all of the above. The idea of forgiving enemies, being faithful to one spouse, the concept of human rights, and sacrificing oneself for others comes from him. In literature, there are lots of Christ-figures (e.g. Dark Knight Rises, Superman, Gandolf, Frodo, and Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, Neo in The Matrix).

Okay, why then are there so many problems in the Church? Because the members of the Church don’t follow Jesus’ teaching. There are tons of problems in the Church and throughout history, not because of Jesus’ and the Church, but because of her members like you and I who don’t follow the Church’s teachings. There are lots of people who buy the medicine (of kindness, forgiveness, honesty, prayer) and put it on the shelf rather than taking it. They have the name of Catholic but don’t live the Church’s teachings. I myself have suffered more than most Catholics because I’ve lived with priests and bishops who sin and have hurt me (But not Fr. Thompson! He’s great to live with.)

But Jesus’ and the Church’s teachings are the best medicine in the world, and when people take it, then we have people like Bl. Mother Teresa, Pope Francis, St. John Paul the Great, St. Francis, St. Thomas More, etc.

Everyone evangelizes about something. You see the way people talk about their smart phones, cruises, restaurants (They say, “You have to try this! It was so good!”). When people talk about something enthusiastically, they’re evangelizing! They’re sharing with you something that makes their life better, and they think it will make our lives better.

You know I love sports. When in Rome, I would encourage other guys in my house to exercise, and when it became more and more popular, Fr. Matthew from Colorado said to me, “Wow, lots of guys are going to the gym. You’re like the “Fitness apostle.” I love exercise, and it makes my life better, and so I want to share that with you. But nothing compares to Jesus and the Church.

What are you evangelizing about? If it’s not about Jesus, is there a reason why? One reason could be that Jesus doesn’t make a big difference in our lives. It’s sad but true. We think, “Going to church is good, I like being Catholic, but I’m not that enthusiastic about it.”

So there are two things we can do: 1) change what we do; or 2) change the way we do it. For example, one of my friends was successful in his investing business, but, after a while, realized that he wasn’t helping people in the best way possible. So he decided to switch careers and study to become a counsellor. Matthew Kelly works four days a month at his firm Floyd Consulting and the rest of the month at Dynamic Catholic. He can do this because his business is lucrative enough; but I wonder how many people who have lucrative jobs who could do something like this choose not to. My mechanic is a devout Christian who, during the evenings, is a pastor and is studying for his M.A. at Regent College. He brings his faith to his business by his honesty and talking about the Lord. All this requires sacrifice of income and time, but it’s worth it!

If it’s not reasonable to change our professions, then we do what we can, what God’s calling us to. For example, my accountant brings her faith to her work and everyone knows she’s Catholic. She does favours for clients, invites people to retreats and talks, takes a day off to go to the pro-life march in Victoria. She even bought a house in Whistler and rents it out to groups at a low cost. Patrick Lencioni is a famous author of business books, but is giving more talks to church groups, and talks about Christian leadership. 

Bob Spalding at Rock Spring Heating & Cooling, Inc. sends out Catholic e-mails all the time.

One of my friends brings her faith to UBC, which is not very favourable to the Church, but because she’s strong, open and competent, she has the respect of her peers. In his retirement Vernon Robertson lives entirely for the Lord, not living for himself, but using every spare hour for his parish and for evangelization.

I love all these examples! Because it shows what we can do, what can be done, if we give God permission to change our lives. And all these people have helped me. I thank God that they’ve given Him more time.

Young people have the world at their fingertips, so do the best, choose the best, and bring your faith to the world! I’m bursting at the seams to tell people, to help people. I want to help as many people as possible. Gary Geronimo last week said it’s a sin not to share a good thing with others. Whatever is good in your life, share it! And if it’s not Jesus, then ask yourself why.

Evangelization is the best thing we can do for the world.