BEARING TESTIMONY TO OURSELVES
It
sounds as though it is impossible to bear testimony to one’s self.
However, it is possible. Whether or not the most powerful form of
testimony is debatable, it is possible. Let us consider the example of
Jesus. He tells us that the testimony He has is far greater than that of
John. You remember, of course, that we are speaking here of John the
Baptist giving testimony to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.
When
we consider the claims Jesus makes in the Gospel, it is obvious that
the witness of His life is going to be an important aspect of His
testimony. Namely, if He cannot back up what He is saying with His
actions, then His Word, the Gospel, will be unconvincing.
The
same is true for us when we share the Gospel with others. The Gospel is a
way of life and people need to see that in our lives if we want to be
convincing evangelists. There is little point in trying to convince a
person to live according to a certain set of values if one is not
willing to be a living example of those values.
The
heart of the Gospel message is precisely a call to transform the way we
live our lives, such that they speak to others of the Kingdom of God and
its values. If the way we live is no different from that of others in
the world, then it is difficult to see what we are really doing, let
alone whether or not we have a convincing argument.
Living
within a Christian community helps us with our lifestyle as there are
practical ways in which we can support one another. On our own, it is
very difficult to be a convincing living witness of the Gospel values in
the face of a hostile world, but along with others, this task becomes
possible. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How well do you live the Gospel in your daily life? Are there areas where you can improve?
Holy Spirit, as I seek to live the Gospel values, help me draw strength from those around me who do the same.
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