Baptismal Duty #2

2. Be A Prophet

In essence, this duty is found in what we call today the ‘New Evangelization’. We have to make an effort to know the Faith, share it effectively and defend it graciously so as to lead as many souls around us back to God. This is the call of the Pope who has announced an Extraordinary month of Mission in October and our Bishops have taken it a step further by announcing an Extraordinary Year of Mission. The world needs it and Malaysia needs it.

The heart of the New Evangelization is love. To be able to allow God to outpour His love into our lives that it becomes uncontainable and we just have to share it! To be so amazed with His love for us that we cannot conceal it any longer! That love has to radically flow in our lives so that we can truly love the people in our worlds, love them enough to share with them the greatest gift we can give them – Jesus Christ. The definite pre-requisite to such radical love and zeal for the New Evangelization is to experience the New Pentecost.

Ask God to set a fire deep down in our souls. We must experience the Baptism of Fire just like the Apostles did in the upper room. Now, the New Pentecost, the Baptism of Fire is not something merely for a select few like those in the Charismatic Renewal. It is for all baptized Catholics. In the Scriptures we see John the Baptist proclaim that he baptizes with water, but there is one to come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Baptism of Water can and Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Fire) are the ultimate combo. For those of us who got confirmed already, we have sacramentally received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit but then and again, have we truly activated this ‘free gift’? We need to.

The Baptism of Fire is not one off, it’s constant infillings of the Holy Spirit. With a fiery Spirit, we will have the drive for the New Evangelization so as to fulfill our duties as prophets. The time is now, much delay has already been made and in fact, indulged in. Time for us to experience the New Pentecost and to go on and set the world on fire by explicitly evangelizing to Non-Catholics and re-evangelizing to Catholics the person of Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Catholic Church.