As we settle down to a new year after celebrating Jesus’ birthday, life focuses on getting back to work and school, and to staying warm in our coldest month. There is no room for depression, however, because Christ is alive in our world; in the warmth of fire, the sparkle of fresh snow, the condensation of our breath as we hurry through chilly streets. 
We prepare to celebrate the Church Unity Octave, January 18 through 25, culminating in the feast of St. Paul’s conversion. A half century ago I grew up in a very Christian Canada. However we seemed to stress the differences between various Christian ways of living our faith, and knew next to nothing about the other religions which the majority of our world’s people follow. Despite a good seminary education, I was shocked about how little I knew about the world I moved to in the early 1970’s. I got busy and learned what I could, but when I met other Christian missionaries I was thrilled to realize how close we were to one another through our faith. I enjoyed getting together with them to pray and share my faith. I soon realized that it is best to put minor theological differences aside to enjoy Jesus’ call to live the law of love as best we can. I hope I can keep myself open to change and growth as Paul did, first though God’s shocking call as he travelled to Damascus, and then through a long ministry of teaching, preaching, and learning. Paul worked out his conversion at great expense, but also in consolation as he could share his happiness at being Christ’s disciple. I hope that each of us can enjoy sharing our faith with other Christians this January.
But what about the rest of the world’s people? Jesus certainly calls them to live life to the full, and I think they do, though most will never be Christian. I try never to pass up an invitation to pray with Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus when invited. Of course I make sure they know who I am, Jesus’ disciple living a Jesuit priest’s life in the Catholic Church. Should some want to learn more about Christianity, I do my best to teach them. In some of our Catholic Nepal missions, people are accepting baptism and forming vibrant Catholic communities. In other places, they prefer not to change. We continue to help them grow through our schools, social service centers, and health care centers.
How does one measure one’s success at the ministry of evangelization? We can check our baptism registers, and count heads at Sunday Masses, but for me it is more important to look at the whole community of people with varied faiths. Are they growing in their own faith, hope, and above all love? Are they able to put feelings aside to help those in need? Are they able to truly forgive, and let go of grudges? That is challenging for all of us!
Therefore let’s examine ourselves first. Can we call ourselves Evangelists? I don’t mean people of a given Christian sect, rather people who are doing our best to build up faith, hope, and love, first in ourselves and then in our communities. This begins at home, then spreads to school, work, and to anywhere we deal with other people.
Perhaps during this year’s Church Unity Octave we can go out of our way to invite other Christians to pray with us, or to join them in their prayer. Perhaps we can work to meet the needs of the poor, cold, and hungry people on our streets. Let’s start our year well, by sharing God’s love with one another.