The Event That Shocks

April 23 Easter Wednesday

Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-2,3-4,6-7,8-9; Luke 24:13-35

There is a three-step pattern to the proclamation of the Good News in Acts. First, an event that shocks and raises questions (pre-evangelization: 2:7, 3:10). Then the preaching of the Gospel in answer to the questions (evangelization 2:16. 3:16). Finally, the evangelized celebrate what they have believed (eucharist 2:41, 4:4).

To evangelize, we ourselves must be the event that shocks—by living in such a way that our actions cannot be explained without the Gospel. This is witness, the essential preliminary to proclaiming the Good News. Christians don’t “fit in.” If they do, they are not living like Christians. If their brand of Christianity is not news, either good or bad, it is a betrayal of the Gospel.

Are those hard words? Are they harder to swallow than the death count from centuries of wars fought by conforming Christian soldiers? Harder than the reality of slavery, imposed by millions of conforming Christian slaveowners? Harder than the death-dealing pollution and diet-related diseases caused by conforming Christian employers and employees?

Are they harder to face than the erosion of ideals (balanced, it is true, by the upsurge of others) that we take for granted in daily life?

If we don’t devote ourselves to bearing witness, what are we liable to witness next?

PRAY: Lord, help me make known to the nation your deeds.

PRACTICE: Keep asking, about everything, “Is this Christianity or conformism?”