Peace be with you.
You are witnesses of these things. We have witnesses in a court of law, for marriage (Best Man and Matron of
Honor), in the signing of documents (Notary Public)… so we are quite familiar with being a witness. There are many other times, when we witness and don’t even realize it. When you go to a baseball game, football game or another sporting event, afterwards you describe what you saw, heard and experienced. We give an account of what we believe to be most important.
Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. In today’s
gospel reading, Jesus instructs His disciples to be witnesses to all nations. In our first reading, Peter is witnessing for Jesus Christ, calling his listeners to conversion – conversion centered on Jesus. Repent,
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.We are called to do the same and to do for others, what Jesus has done for us.
Witnessing for Jesus is much more than telling people about the life of Jesus. While we should know about the life or Jesus through the Scriptures…the way we live our everyday life is a powerful witness –how we use our time, for prayer, family, helping others, going to Mass… what we say etc. We pray to stay in the presence of Jesus Christ throughout the day.
God bless us all always! Deacon Mike