cross-examining the witness
"The members of the Church who had been dispersed went about preaching the word." —Acts 8:4
Jesus is risen, and we are His witnesses (see Acts 1:8; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 10:41; 13:31). In this beginning of the Easter season, on the threshold of the Great Jubilee and the third millennium, are you obeying the risen Jesus and witnessing for Him?
If you are not witnessing, or not witnessing that much, you may be quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) by letting yourself be:
- manipulated by the fear of being ridiculed (see Acts 2:12-13),
- intimidated by threats (see Acts 4:18),
- preoccupied with personal, family, or community problems (see Acts 6:1ff),
- traumatized by the death of someone you love (see Acts 8:2), or
- shaken by persecution (see Acts 8:1, 3).
The fact that Satan opposes our witnessing with wave after wave of opposition is an indication that witnessing for Jesus is powerful, life-changing, and world-changing.
The Lord has given us the power to overcome all the opposition of the evil one. He promises: "There is One greater in you than there is in the world" (1 Jn 4:4). God's grace is sufficient, for in our weakness His power reaches perfection (2 Cor 12:9). Pray to accept the grace to witness to someone for the risen Christ within twenty-four hours.
Prayer: Father, stir the Holy Spirit into flame in my life (see 2 Tm 1:6-7).
Promise: "No one who comes will I ever reject." —Jn 6:37
Praise: St. Anselm twice was exiled because he defended the authority of the pope.
Reference: (Pentecost is approaching. Pray about ordering our books, Praying For A New Pentecost, and Seek the Gifts of the Spirit, and our leaflet, The Pentecost Novena.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, October 9, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 17, 1998