# Standing before Jesus with an open heart
*2014-12-05*

> Bill Young reflects on the motivation for evangelization and the importance of a contemplative heart during the first week of Advent.

## The Motivation for Evangelization

The primary reason for evangelizing is the love of Jesus that we receive. The experience of salvation urges us toward an ever-greater love for Him. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the Beloved, to point Him out, and to make Him known? If we do not feel an intense desire to share this love, we need to pray insistently that He will once more touch our hearts. We must implore His grace daily, asking Him to open our cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm and superficial experiences.

## Standing in His Presence

Standing before Jesus with open hearts and letting Him look at us, we see the gaze of love that the disciples glimpsed when He called them. It is so good to stand before the crucifix or on our knees before the Blessed Sacrament, simply being in His presence. There is so much good that happens when He once more touches our lives and impels us to share His new life.

## Recovering a Contemplative Spirit

The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating His love, lingering over its pages, and reading it with the heart. If we approach the Word in this way, its beauty will amaze and constantly excite us. We need to recover a contemplative spirit, which helps us realize and renew the fact that we have been entrusted with a treasure that makes us more human and helps us lead a new life. There is nothing more precious that we can give to others.

*Jesus, help me share the good news of Your love with others.*