5th Sunday of Easter, Year C
Since Easter Sunday, our readings at Mass have all emphasized the importance of witnessing to our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Witnessing to our risen Lord entails sharing our personal experience, testimony and faith in Him with the world; and living out His life and gospel in the world.
Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles chapter 14, verse 21 to 27 show us the actions of the apostles as they witnessed to Christ and teaches us some of the characteristics of a true witness of Christ. What are these characteristics of a true witness of Christ? They are as follows: -strengthening the spirits of your brothers and sisters in Christ; -urging them to persevere in the faith; -undergoing hardships for the sake of the kingdom of God; -praying constantly; -fasting; -and always living out and preaching the word of God.
Then in today’s gospel reading from the holy Gospel according to St. John chapter 13, verse 31 to 35, Jesus summarizes these characteristics of a true witness of His by giving us a new commandment saying, “love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
So are you a true witness or disciple of Christ? If you are, are you sharing your personal experiences, testimonies and faith in Him with the others? Are you truly living out Christ’s life and gospel in the world?
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our Church needs more catholic christians who will truly witness to Christ in the world today like the apostles and disciples of Christ did during their time as we have heard from the Acts of the Apostles. So let us go out into the world today and witness to Christ by strengthening the spirits of our brothers and sisters in Christ; by urging them to persevere in the faith; by undergoing hardships for the sake of the kingdom of God; by praying constantly; by fasting regularly; by always living out and preaching the word of God; and lastly, by loving one another as Christ has loved us and continues to love us.
