Proclamation

The Gospel is a proclamation and an invitation. It is not a command. The angels proclaimed Jesus' birth to the shepherds. The shepherds decided among themselves to go and see him. Coming to Christ is always the choice of the individual; not the carrying out of an order. The Gospel is presented, the Holy Spirit does his work in the heart and mind of the hearer, but it is up to the hearer to make the decision. A forced conversion is a false conversion.