His Visible Presence

May 14 St Matthias, Apostle (instead of Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter): 

A thought for those who want to reveal the risen Jesus in their lifestyle.

Acts 1:15-17,20-26; Psalm 113:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8; John 15:9-17

“A witness to his resurrection.” Acts 1:22

Peter said the “replacement apostle” had to be one who “accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us.” Only someone who knew Jesus could testify it was truly he who rose from the dead. And for us to reveal Jesus authentically as risen and acting in us today, we have to know how he thinks, speaks, and deals with people and events. To bear witness as prophets, we have to know Jesus—be “disciples,” students of his heart.

Bearing witness as a prophet is Phase Three of our growth into maturity as the body of Christ. Phase Two is committed discipleship. Phase One is cultivating awareness of the mystery of our identity. Through Baptism we “became Christ.” That is something to absorb.

As Christ’s body we are committed to making Jesus Christ a part of everything we do. We are prophets when we act visibly as the body of Christ, the Word of God made flesh. In us the words of Jesus are made flesh in action when we embody them visibly in our lifestyle. Christian witness is to live visibly in such a way that our life reveals the presence of the risen Jesus in us.

PRAY and PRACTICE: Form the habit of saying the “WIT prayer” all day: “Lord, do this with me, do this in me, do this through me.” Find ways to remind yourself to do it.