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True witness often means embracing sacrifice and offering our own suffering for the salvation of othersWe’ve been calling evangelization a battle, and it is. When you step out to evangelize, you’re not just starting a project, you’re stepping onto a battlefield.Evangelization is a direct assault against Satan’s kingdom of lies, sin, and death. And he doesn’t sit quietly when his territory is threatened. So, what kind of a soldier are you? How prepared are you for b …

Many years ago, as a graduate student, I spent a summer with a Christian Palestinian family in Bethlehem. It was my first visit to the Holy Land, and, as it does for many new pilgrims, it rocked my world.One thing struck me immediately. Throughout the Holy Land, you can see the word hic inscribed in various locations, like churches and alleyways. This simple word, Latin for “here,” was written as a reminder to the believer that the events recorded in the Gospels all happened in …

Biblically, an idol is anything to which we give the adoration and submission that are due to God alone. The ancient world worshiped personal idols, such as Zeus and Athena. Our contemporary world struggles with more spiritual idols, idols that are more discreet and seductive, such as pleasure, money, and power.Just as, in the early centuries after Christ, ancient peoples tried to retain their idolatry and impose it upon the gospel, leading to Christological heresies such as Docetism and Ariani …

The Gospel vs. Myths and Fiction Unlike myths, the gospel is based on historical facts. It is not “Jesus and the Seven Dwarves.” Its events are attested, chronicled, archived, preserved. They are not fiction, and neither are they a parable that uses fiction to convey moral lessons or wishful thinking. The gospel is not real because it’s intellectually satisfying or because it provides emotional consolation. It is not real because it’s a cherished family tradition. It is not real b …

  The Importance of Reading the Bible Throughout my priestly ministry, I have always encouraged people to read the Bible. At a time when God, his revelation, and sacred teachings are distorted and redefined, it is a safe first practice to lead people to the Bible. By reading it, a person encounters a living word. He sees and hears God on his own terms, from his own deeds and words. Although more teaching will be needed, this initial practice of reading the Bible can dispel false images, co …