As we carry out the mission of sharing Jesus Christ with the world, it would do us well to simply let Jesus be Himself — His true, shocking, attractive self. He is, after all, the "first and greatest evangelizer," and though his methods often defy our worldly expectations — they work. They actually reach people’s hearts and call them to conversion.

We don’t need to smooth out the sharp edges of our Gospel proclamation in order to win hearts. In fact, just the opposite. Let Christ be Christ and let the Church be the Church! If we do that, following the Holy Spirit’s lead, doing all things in love — we can trust that our Risen Lord will gather all people to Himself.