Saint Peter encourages us to "sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope" (1 Peter 3:15)
Now sometimes a person may ask you, clearly and straightforwardly. And other times one may sense that a person is being very careful NOT to ask you about your hope in Christ Jesus.
However, I find that most commonly the asking is more ambiguous and requires discernment and a gift for God in that there may seem to be a question but the person does not really want to know why you hope in Christ and, in that case, trying to give an explanation is a waste of time. Or, on the other hand, a person may be indirectly asking about something else when they really DO want to know about your Christian hope and one needs to respond gently and with patience.
My recent, few months experience with Communion and Liberation (see prior posting) has helped me to give more attention to this 'who asks' aspect of Saint Peter's exhortation.
