Evangelism Evolved

Armodoxy for Today: Evangelism Evolved

In the week following the feast of the Holy Evangelists, yesterday we examined the word evangelize in the Armenian Church, which has the same root as the word for Gospel, the Good News. The Resurrection of Jesus was the first Gospel, the first good news: Christ has risen, was the message heralded after Jesus survived a horrid torture, crucifixion and physical death. So impactful was this event in the lives of the people who witnessed the events from Palm Sunday to Easter that the only thing they could talk about was the Resurrection. Christ has resurrected. He lives.

That Gospel evolved as the Church grew, in that Christ opened the door to immortality with a guarantee that eternity was within everyone’s grasp, rich and poor, with no bias or favoritism paid to the class, race or ethnic background. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand said St. John the Baptist (Matthew 3) and with Jesus the Kingdom was now accessible to all. The fact that God is the author of all life, that He is “our” Father (and not “your” father or “my” father) makes us all brothers and sisters, under the sun. There are no special people, there is only us – humanity. God’s Kingdom is not accessed as a birthright, or because of a person’s DNA, but by a conscious acceptance to Christ’s invitation to love.

Christian evangelization evolved from Christ has risen to understanding that we all – all of humanity – may rise with Him. In eternity we find transcendence. And humanity may find peace on earth and good will toward one another.

We pray today from the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church, in holiness let us taste of the holy, holy and precious Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who, having come down from heaven, is distributed among us. This is life, hope, hope of resurrection, expiation and remission of sins. Sing psalms to the Lord our God, sing psalms to our immortal heavenly king, who rides in chariots of cherubim. Amen