Where Are You Coming From?

May 1  Thursday of the 2nd week of Easter: A thought for those who want to bear prophetic witness through lifestyle

Acts 5:27-33; Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-18, 19-20; John 3:31-36

Jesus said, “The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.” In contrast, speaking of himself, he said, “The one who comes from heaven… testifies to what he has seen and heard.”

Peter said later, speaking for all the baptized, “We are witnesses of these things,” meaning the words and actions of Jesus. These are “what we have seen and heard.” If we live up to our baptismal consecration as “prophets,” we “testify” to them.

 

It follows that if we don’t “testify to what we have seen and heard,” but instead “speak of earthly things,” we come across as people who are “of the earth, earthly.” In us there is no manifestation of “the Holy Spirit whom God has given.”

Then—visibly, at least—we are not “spiritual.” And not Christian. That is not good. We are failing Jesus Christ, our Father, and the Holy Spirit. We are failing in love for our brothers and sisters. Failing to “build up the body of Christ in love” (Ephesians 4:12-16).

If we are failing, it is probably out of fear of making a bad impression. What if Jesus and the apostles had yielded to that fear? Where would we be now?

PRAY: Lord, don’t let me be ashamed of you.

PRACTICE: Testify to what you have seen and heard. Get in touch with it first.