Evangelizers

A new Marist Document, Evangelizers in the Midst of Youth, reminds us that ALL of us are evangelizers who have a specific focus on young people.  It is amazing how much they observe, although they don't seem to be paying attention.  They don't miss a thing.  What we might consider our most insignificant routine action or word is measured by these keen observers as positive or negative influences on them.  Sometimes a passing word, even a "hello" gets reported at home as if  it had been a hundred dollar bill.  In one sense, this might make evangelizing easy...just be genuine, just show caring concern, just offer a word of recognition and encouragement, and more good has been done than in a full blown religion lesson. On the other hand, it means that care needs to be taken not to slip into words or behaviors that might hurt or betray the mission of making Jesus known and loved.  We need to be on our toes, but once we see ourselves as "teachers" evangelizers, we will be less prone to sabotage the mission.  Not being "perfect" we will fail from time to time,  but these themselves can lead to a positive result as we seek forgiveness and try to compensate for the fault.  Dear God, thank you for the call to be an evangelizers of youth, and of all we meet.  Help me remember my role as this day passes, and let me be faithful to it always.  Amen.