March 2020 | OFFICE OF PARISH EVANGELIZATION & DISCIPLESHIP Missionary Discipleship “ The Art of Listening” A missionary disciple is a friend of Jesus who calls others into friendship with Jesus; or as Bishop Ricken sometimes says, “Become a friend of Jesus. Make a friend. Introduce your friend to Jesus.” Before we introduce others to our friend Jesus, we need to get to know others and become their friends. But how does one make a friend? Well, it’s simple - we become involved in the lives of others. As Pope Francis said in The Joy of the Gospel, “an evangelizing community gets involved in word and deed in people’s daily lives” (Evangelii gaudium 24) First, we need to share our time and presence. This can happen simply by walking over and saying “Hi”. Second, we need to share a conversation. For many, it can be easy to get excited to share about oneself first. However, a missionary disciple takes the time to let the other person speak more than they do. They practice the ‘art of listening’. As Pope Francis tells us, “We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing. Listening, in communication, is an openness of heart which makes possible that closeness without which genuine spiritual encounter cannot occur. Listening helps us to find the right gesture and word which shows that we are more than simply bystanders” (EG, 171) Rather than simply hearing the other person, a missionary disciple pays deep attention to the words, tone, and emotions shared by another when answering. A missionary disciple strives to see the person with whom they interact as a brother or sister, lovingly created by the same God, with numerous thoughts, skills, ideas, and preferences which are totally unique to them. www.thecompassnews.org/2018/07/what-is-a-missionary-disciple/