THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR C
Acts 5:27-32,40-41; Ps 30;
Rev. 5:11-14; Jn 21:1-19
WE ARE WITNESSES
On this third Sunday of Easter, we are called to be witnesses in the world to Jesus. In the first reading, we hear about the arrest of the disciples for spreading the message of Jesus.
The threat from the Jews and the Sanhedrin in particular did not stop them. In fact, they stood their ground and insisted “we must obey God rather than men.” Can we say that we are also that confident today? Can we stare persecution, ridicule and attack in the face and say “it is better to obey God?”
Today Christians of old, Christians of today seem to be warned not to preach the gospel. It seems as if we are being told what to preach about and what not to preach about. Many Christians on social media are being “cancelled” for speaking the truth. Apart from extremists whose attack is violent, the persecution these days has largely changed to being “cancelled”. What this means is that the social media avenues that are used would be closed to us. Sometimes our accounts will permanently be suspended or would not be allowed to even participate on some platforms. It is a difficult time. But like the disciples of old, we must not relent or give up. We should be driven by what drove the them; the conviction that we too will overcome death and evil like Jesus did.
The message of their witnessing did not change in order to please the Sanhedrin or massage their egos. It was not a message of false hope and false prophesies of prosperity but a message of salvation. It was a preaching about how God loved mankind and sent his son Jesus to come and die for our sins so that he can save us from our sins and weaknesses.
This message of salvation is not a reported speech but an experience. They have experienced the saving action of Jesus and the freedom and peace it brought them. This is what they were preaching and talking about. They were not talking theories but experience. Women from their midst went to the tomb and saw the risen Lord (Mtt 28:9-10), the story of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus (Mk 16:12), these are a few of the resurrected experiences they had. This is what informed the content of their message.
In it all the Holy Spirit is also a witness. He is the one who gives strength and inspiration for the propagation of the good news to the world.
From the experience of the Disciples, we too can learn a few lessons on how to evangelize or witness in the world.
To begin with, we must realise that the Lord Jesus has called of us to become evangelizers or witness in the world. He commanded “Go in to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to all creation” (Mk 16:15). The call to witness therefore is a divine command. When we witness, the kingdom of Satan is weakened and people are freed from his hold over their lives.
A truly converted and consecrated heart is what is needed to embark on witnessing. We ourselves must be the evidence of the power of the saving grace of Jesus. Every aspect of our lives must show that we have given ourselves completely to Jesus. We must have Jesus before we offer him to others. This is what we would be witnessing to so we can say with Peter “we speak of what we have witnessed”.
We must not forget the power of prayer. We must always pray for people to come to know Jesus. we must always pray to Jesus to save people. We can pray for specific people and also sinners in general. In this regard I propose to you devotion to the Sacred Heard of Jesus and the Divine Mercy which pray for sinners and asks for Jesus’ mercy for all.
In addition, we must learn to speak. Apart from reflecting it in our lives we must also speak to people. Since witnessing is a divine commandment from Jesus, is it therefore obligatory to learn how to speak to people. There cannot be any excuse. We must face the fear of public speaking if we have one, we must know how to talk to people.
Furthermore, we must find different ways or avenues of speaking to people. Today we must find ways to witness to children, the youth, those who do not believe in God and Jesus, and those who have left the church. We must also learn how to reach people with the new technologies we have. At the time of Jesus, he used Peter’s boat as a medium to preach the crowd (Lk5). Do not forget that, every time on social media is a time to witness and to evangelize.
Jesus commands us to witness to those who have not yet heard the message. Our witnessing therefore should be directed at those who are not yet saved, not other Christians. Proselytism is not witnessing or evangelizing.
There cannot be any true witnessing without the Holy Spirit. In deed the Holy Spirit is the greatest witness of the resurrection. He was with Jesus throughout his ministry. He is the power that raised Jesus from the dead. The Holy spirit reminds us of what Jesus has taught, inspires us and strengthens us.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen our resolve, inspire us and grant us all the grace we need to be faithful witnesses in the World.
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
