For such a mission as this, is anyone truly qualified? 2 Cor. 2:16
Easter gives us a wonderful opportunity to again discover the joy of believing, and bringing this joy to others.
Pope Francis works tirelessly to inspire us to be missionary disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit. "How I long to find the right words to stir up enthusiasm for a new chapter of evangelization full of fervor, joy, generosity, courage, boundless love and attraction! Yet I realize that no words of encouragement will be enough unless the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts. (Joy of the Gospel #262)
So how do we go about "reviving in the whole Church that positive tension, that yearning to announce Christ again?," Benedict XVI asked in his homily for the Year of Faith Opening Mass.
Benedict and Francis say we first need to be grounded in knowledge (especially Scripture, Church documents) and prayer. "For without prayer all our activity risks being fruitless and our message empty." (Joy #259)
Prayer, having that relationship with God, is important because, "It is not possible to persevere in a fervent evangelization unless we are convinced from personal experience that it is not the same to have known Jesus as not to have known him...not the same thing to contemplate him, to worship him, to find our peace in him, as not to." (266) "We know well that with Jesus life becomes richer and that with him it is easier to find meaning in everything. That is why we evangelize." (266) That is why we pray.
And Francis adds: The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love, lingering over its pages and reading it with heart. If we do not feel an intense desire to share the love of Jesus we need to pray insistently he will once more touch our hearts. (264)
Our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant. 2 Cor. 3:5-6 Therefore, since we have such hope, we act very boldly. 2 Cor. 3:12