Are You a Witness for Jesus?

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

Dt 4:32-34, 39-40/Rom 8:14-17/Mt 28:16-20

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Following the descent of theHoly Spirit at Pentecost, it is fitting we celebrate God the Father, who through the Power of the Holy Spirit and the ‘yes’ of Mary, incarnated the Word of God in Jesus, His Son, who on the Cross breathed His last, sending forth the Spirit to descend on those gathered in the Upper Room at Pentecost. God the Father, Son, andHoly Spirit Holy--the Holy Trinity--are One God.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells those gathered to: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” We become disciples and children of God through Trinitarian baptism. The command, given to those gathered with Jesus prior to His ascension is the command all disciples are given today.

As disciples, we have been commanded to go and make disciples—to baptize and teach, that is to evangelize and catechize. How do we do this? Through our witness of Christ's transforming action in our lives, we have come to know Him profoundly, love Him intimately, and serve Him selflessly. By this we are thus propelled to go and witness this to the world.

The dictionary notes that a witness is one who:

• Gives a first-hand account of something seen, heard, or experienced
• Testifies or gives testimony
• Is present to or has personal knowledge of
• Furnishes or serves as evidence
• Testifies to one’s religious beliefs

I read a bumper sticker not too long ago that asked, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would they have enough to convict you?” Interesting question, isn’t it? How do others know that Christ is central to our lives? Can they tell by our thoughts, words, and actions? Can they tell by our beliefs and conduct?

If we are called to give testimony or personal knowledge of Christ to others, how do we do that? How do we ‘furnish’ as personal ‘evidence’ our knowledge of Christ? Do we know Jesus well enough to know what He preached and taught?

To be a witness is to testify in all truthfulness what we have seen. To ‘see’ Jesus, we must be in personal relationship with Him. To know Him, we must be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit who will lead us to Him. Prayer and worship, receiving the sacraments, and living a virtuous life help us to grow as disciples so we can give witness, through word and action, of Christ alive in our lives. True disciples cannot sit silent, for the love of Christ that fills them compels them to go forth. The mission of Christ for the salvation of all souls becomes our urgent mission as well.

I have been part of many discussions recently over the issue of religious freedom. It is interesting how many love Jesus, but aren’t willing to take a public stand to defend their right to worship Him. It is a mystery to me how many claim to be believers, yet practice lifestyles and choices that are contrary to what Jesus taught, let alone reduce Jesus to nothing more than a definition of love that renders His power useless and impotent. Remember, the Lord told those gathered at the Sermon on the Mount, “I did not come to abolish the Law or the prophets, but rather, to fulfill it” (Mt 5:17). Disciples cannot distort the teachings of Jesus to suit their own wants and needs. Believers cannot recreate the Word of God to conform to today’s culture and society. If we love Jesus, we love all that He preached and taught, as well as the Church He left behind to carry out His mission.

May the love of Christ be with and in you and may the Power of the Holy Spirit give you the strength, courage, and conviction to go forth and make disciples, being witness to the Gospel message as we call all to fullness of life through Christ and His Church.