Changing Mind, Changing Life
by Danny Tariman
He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. (Mt 21:29)
In the work of evangelization, you will encounter varied responses. Most of them in the negative. Different reasons and alibis so as to escape an invitation to attend a Bible Study.
My friend Albert (not his real name) is no different from them. A confessed womanizer and a smoker (yes, you will smell him several feet away), he would almost always sneer at me when I mention “Jesus” or “Bible”.
”Saka na lang” would be his standard answer when I invite him.
But I never gave up on him.
One day, a common friend invited him to come to my birthday party. What Albert did not know is that the “party” includes a teaching of the Word.
When I lead the group to a prayer of salvation, and he was repeating after me, I know in my heart that the Lord “had” him.
Since then, he has been attending our Bible Study sessions and even opening his house to host a Bible Study. He once replied “Sorry, I can’t”, but later changed his mind and joined!
As with St Paul, I say this too: “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in [him] will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) – Danny
REFLECTION:
Do you easily give up on our call to evangelize?
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, empower me to lead people to Jesus!
[This reflection was first published in Didache on Sept 28, 2008]
