PREACHING THE GOSPEL WITH LOVE 

By Msgr. John Wynand Katende 

Posted on: Saturday, 17th October 2026

“Beebale Amansi ne Mapeera, beebale abaaleeta ekitangaala ». The song is very popular in Uganda and appreciates the excellent work of Christian missionaries. 

This Sunday, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Church establishing a special Sunday each year to remind every Baptized person of their inalienable duty to proclaim the Gospel for the salvation of peoples (World Mission Sunday). The day builds upon the work of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, who founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1822 to aid missionaries.

It was inaugurated by Pope Pius XI in 1926. Christians are encouraged to thank God for the gift of the gospel, to pray for those who devote themselves to proclaiming the Gospel among the nations, and to support this mission by raising funds. Indeed, everyone is encouraged to evangelize wherever they live. That is why Christ calls Christians the salt of the earth and its light (Matthew 5:13-16). It is by their Christian conduct that others will recognize Christ and very likely desire to convert to Him.

Pope Leo XIV, in his message for this year, urges the faithful to proclaim the Gospel in the spirit of love and desire for the salvation of all. This spirit directly derives from the heart and mercy of God (1 Timothy 2:4).

In the Gospel of John 3:16, God tells us that He Himself opened the work of evangelization when He, in His grace and love, sent His Son into the world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but be saved through Him. It means that Jesus Christ Himself is the Gospel and He is the Savior. Jesus chose to work with Christians by sending them to proclaim Him to the world, that whoever believes in Him may be saved (Mark 16:15). Mother Mary gives us a wonderful example. Soon after conceiving Jesus in her womb, she visited Elizabeth. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and John, who was in her womb, was sanctified. We are told that this visit was at the heart of the proclamation of the Gospel, out of love and compassion for the salvation of souls. But sometimes the work of evangelization is done out of selfishness, to make a name for oneself, to gain colonies, and to rule over people. Those who do so are working against God’s mission, and God says He will denounce them at the last judgment (Matthew 7:21).

The true proclamation of the gospel does not involve forcing people to believe, but gives each their dignity and free will. The evangelist must leave it to God to transform the person who has heard the gospel. Ultimately, the Christian family is intended to be the cradle of evangelization. Spouses are supposed to be directly responsible for mutual salvation, and parents to teach their children to love God and all people.