Wake up call: What is the Gospel?
by Stuart A. Wilson-Smith, CSP
November 11, 2013

Part of being the “religious/Catholic guy” at parties, wedding dinners, receptions or even at work is that people will ask me for my take on a variety of Catholic issues. These questions often have to do with sexual ethics, women’s ordination, etc. That is OK, and I generally answer those questions as best I can. But at a gathering a few years ago, someone asked me a real whopper: “Hey, so what is the Gospel anyway?”

“What is the Gospel?” I echoed. “Well the Gospel is … uh … basically … uh …” I completely bombed the answer. I was fully prepared to talk about hot-button issues, but I couldn’t provide a succinct answer to the question at the heart of my faith – at least not without pulling in unnecessary, high-theological words and concepts that would have made the questioner wish they had simply asked how Holy Water is made. Wow. What a wake-up call.

Of course, I recognize that not being able to succinctly articulate the Gospel is not necessarily the same as not knowing it. I know plenty of people who live the Gospel but may not articulate it in easily-digestible sound bites. Similarly, the Gospel defines my life, but it’s meaning being implicit for so many years somehow prevented me from sitting down and unpacking it as objectively as I should. This is problematic. Why? Because I’m training to be a missionary! I’m a Paulist for crying out loud, a member of “The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle!” We “Give the Gospel a voice today!” But of course it shouldn’t just be problematic for me: evangelization is meant to be the work of the whole Church – lay and ordained alike.

You know that famous quote attributed (in various formulations) to St. Francis? “Preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words.” The first part I am on board with (please refer to my previous post on this blog, “The Gospel Network”). The second part is one good reason why I am not a Franciscan: I love to talk it out! Talking faith is exciting to me, and I am always energized by those who share their life in the Gospel with me. I don’t think that I’m the only one in this boat, and I certainly think it’s a good thing, but again, it forces me to constantly work on this question: “What is the Gospel?”

Since I entered the Paulist novitiate I have imagined different ways that I might, in a few sentences, give an explanation for “the hope that is within me” (1 Peter 3:15) to different sectors of the population. Perhaps you might try it, too? It’s actually not a bad exercise. Of course I have no illusions: I realize that a short answer will probably not convert anyone on the spot. But by the grace of the Holy Spirit, it could very well open up a much grander conversation. And conversion, after all, isn’t really about something instantaneous, anyhow. When people see our faith – see how we have taken ownership of it, see that the Gospel is on the tips of our tongues – that makes the invitation to (ongoing) conversion that much more appealing.

So go ahead and be the religious guy or gal at your next social function. Share the reason for the hope and they joy that is in you. “Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, at cousin Marty’s wedding.”