May 23, Monday, Sixth Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-16:4a
We are witnesses to Jesus not only because we understand His teachings but also because we assist others in understanding and loving Him.
In today's Gospel, Jesus says and promises that the Holy Spirit will come: "When the Paraclete comes, who comes from the Father, he will testify to me."
I wonder what the disciples thought when Jesus told them that they would be changing the world by their testimony. They might think that this would be grand and glorious or that they would become famous. However, Jesus quickly dismisses any illusions of greatness or glory. Instead, he warns them that they will be persecuted for their testimony. They will also be expelled from the synagogues and might even be put to death.
Can you imagine how the disciples reacted to Jesus’ words? Were they frightened? Or did they feel empowered?
It is good to reflect on ourselves. How committed are we to Jesus? If we choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we may have to deal with criticism, judgment, or persecution of one or another. It is said that our world today is not different from the world Jesus lived in. In many parts of the world, practically daily, there are reports of Christians, crimes, and shootings.
To testify to Jesus means to have communion and intimacy with him. This is born of the daily relationship with him: reading the Gospel, listening to his words, knowing his teachings, frequenting sacraments, being in communion with the Church, imitating his examples, keeping the commandments, seeing him in the saints, recognizing him in our brothers and sisters, having his spirit and loving him in every situation. It is about having a personal and living experience of Jesus.
We must transmit what we experience in our souls to the outside world through our words and deeds. We are witnesses of Jesus not only because we understand his teachings but also because we help others understand and love him.
Let us strive to be attentive to the "Good News" in our lives and make it known to the world.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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