Saint Peter’s blueprint for evangelization is found in three basic statements from 1 Peter 3:15-16: “Should anyone ask you the reason for this hope of yours, be ever ready to reply, but speak gently and respectfully.”
Unfolding these verses, we first encounter, “Should anyone ask you the reason for this hope of yours.” It is here that Saint Peter advises us that if we live our relationship with the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), we will be filled with a hope that radiates wherever we go. According to Saint Peter, others will notice that there is something different about us – so much so, that some will ask what is happening in our life. Our relationship with Jesus will produce a peace within us that goes beyond all understanding.
This isn’t to say that problems or difficulties won’t touch us, but instead of being consumed by such things, there will be a peace that comes from placing all our cares and concerns into God’s hands. I believe this all begins with Jesus knocking at the door of our very being, waiting for us to respond. Once we open the door and invite Him in – surrender our will to the will of the one who offers us the hope of salvation – nothing will ever be the same.
It’s important to understand that this isn’t a one-and-done kind of situation. It’s the beginning of a relationship, a journey that requires us to always seek to deepen the relationship, remembering that, as Saint Paul tells us, we are the Temples of the Holy Spirit. (Cor. 6:19)
There is great joy in all this, thus we share that joy with others. The most profound way we can witness that joy, that hope, is through living the love we have received from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is this lived expression of His love that others first notice.
This brings us to Saint Peter’s second part of his blueprint of evangelization, the call to “be ready to reply.” Having been asked about our show of joy, peace, love and hope, we need to be ready with an explanation, or witness, as to our condition. Most of us probably haven’t given much thought to preparing to articulate what makes us joyful, peaceful and so willing to be at the service of others.
This isn’t the time for doctrinal explanations, but more a sharing of our newfound relationship with Jesus and the peace it brings. We have already witnessed this with the way we now live our life; now we must put words together in order to express why our life has such meaning. This part of the formula may be difficult for some, and yet we all must be ready with our faith story.
Having put together an explanation concerning our experience of Jesus and our relationship with Him, we need to consider the final stage of Saint Peter’s evangelization blueprint. How we deliver our witness!
Saint Peter says, “speak gently and respectfully.” Again, we need to recall that this isn’t a time to hammer someone with all kinds of doctrinal, theological or even scriptural explanations. We must present our story in such a way that reflects our actions that provoked the question in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not downplaying doctrine, theology or Scripture – they have their place in our faith journey. But these elements of our faith come later in our journey. It was the gentle Jesus that invited us to “come to Him.” Therefore, it must be a gentle presentation, a witness that is filled with warmth and love that we experience in our hearts.
Finally, consider the following as we try and put Saint Peter’s program into practice. Revelation 3:20 presents Jesus standing at the door of our being, knocking, waiting for us to open the door and invite Him into our life. If we do so, He will have supper with us.
This speaks of relationship, and that is what we ultimately share – our relationship with Jesus.
Deacon James H. Rocks of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Collingswood, is a retired deacon of the Diocese of Camden.
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