Recently I was at Mass and the Gospel reading was the “Great Commission” from Matthew 28. The priest’s homily was focused on evangelization, and the need for everyone to participate in this apostolate. He mentioned favorably preaching on the street-corner, but noted it was not for everyone. Yet he emphasized how everyone meets a number of people each day – at work, on a soccer field, at the grocery store, etc. – and each one can be evangelized in a natural way.

He gave a great example of practical evangelization. Let’s say you are in line at the grocery store:

You: Boy, with the economy like it is, I’m not sure how I’ll continue to afford all this food.
Person: That’s for sure.
You: Well, I’ll just have to trust in God and know that He provides for me.

That’s it! Of course, personal evangelization must be natural, so no one should repeat this conversation exactly, but it is a good example of how evangelization can be done each and every day.

It particularly struck me when he said that each person who comes to faith in Christ probably meets 150 people who bring him or her along that path, and it is only the 150th who is the one who might see the conversion actually happen. So you might be the 116th person the convert meets, but you are as necessary as the 1st or the 150th.

Remember that as you interact with your co-workers, friends, family and even strangers today.