WITNESS OR BYSTANDER? The feast of The Ascension of the Lord is not a mark of Christ’s departure but a celebration of his entering into the realm of glory to become our definitive Emmanuel – God with us – through his abiding presence. If Christ had not ascended into heaven, we would not be able to pray to him at any time and in any place, we would not be able to have him close by in the Eucharist, because he would still be limited by time and space. Today he calls us into action, to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Bearing witness to Jesus Christ our Lord and the transforming power of his love is our primary vocation in life. To empower us for this task he promises the Holy Spirit, who “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14: 26). The term witness comes from the Greek word, martus – hence the word martyr in English. It means someone who is in a position to attest to the facticity of an event. A good witness is always willing to account for what they have experienced. An active Christian witness is a messenger of the Good News, and that is what we are called to be. We are already passive witnesses, having all experienced the new life in Christ through our baptism. In the Eucharist we commemorate his Death and Resurrection; and in Confession we experience conversion and forgiveness of sin. Therefore, our challenge is to become active witnesses, to vouch for what we have seen and heard, what we have touched and tasted. God has called each one of us to be his witness in a unique way. As St Paul tells the Corinthians: “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord” (1 Cor. 12: 4-5). Some have been called to be priests, and some consecrated religious. Some are called to be full-time missionaries, while others have been called to transform civil society as workers or political leaders. Some have been called to be parents, guardians or teachers, while others have been called to care for the sick and elderly as doctors, nurses and aged-care workers. In whatever we are called, Jesus invites us to be his witnesses; to be bright lights on the hill, beacons of hope for a world wallowing in despair and apathy. As Pope Benedict XVI put it: “The proclamation of the Gospel remains the primary service that the Church owes to humanity, to offer the salvation of Christ to the man of our time, who is in many ways humiliated and oppressed, and to orientate in a Christian way cultural, social, and ethical transformations that are unfolding in the world.” We are called to bear witness by the sincerity, faithfulness, and loving-kindness with which we live out our normal responsibilities and relationships. In the Gospel Reading, Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission to “go make disciples of all the nations” (Mt. 28:19). They have their work cut out for them. Christ has revealed to them the purpose of their lives. After years of apprenticeship they have been commissioned to practice their trade. Their commission is our commission and their mandate is our mandate. The commission to “go” demands an urgency of active commitment as we strive to work our salvation “with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). The most efficacious way to bear witness to Christ’s ineffable love and his overflowing fountain of mercy is through our Christian example. Our actions say more about us than our words. When we follow in the footsteps of Christ we are actively witnessing to his universal message of salvation. In effect, we are martyrs for the truth of life. The martyrs of the Church are so venerated because of their faithful witness, even to the point of death. However, not everyone is called to blood martyrdom, but we are all called to self-martyrdom in our everyday life. Little acts of forgiveness, forbearance, self-mortification, repentance, and fruitful sacramental life – these are the basic elements of being an active witness. As Pope Paul VI rightly said: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii Nuntiandi #41). The failure to be an active witness makes one a mere bystander. But we are called to be active witnesses and not bystanders. And a whole world of difference exists between them. The Witness is an interested party, taking note of all the proceedings, and well equipped to give a full account as and when required; the Bystander is just looking by with an attitude of indifference, unable to give a full account since no one can give what they do not have. The Witness stands by the story, the Bystander sits on it. The Witness plays the Eagle, soaring to greater heights; the Bystander plays the Ostrich – head buried in the sand. The Witness tastes the sour fruit of suffering; the Bystander makes a sorry tale. The Witness feels the pulse; the Bystander pauses the feeling. The Witness walks the walk; the Bystander talks the talk. The Witness takes responsibility; the Bystander merely shifts it. The Witness lends a hand; the Bystander points a finger. It’s up to us to determine whether we are witnesses or bystanders. In the Preface today, the Church bids us rejoice that the Lord Jesus has ascended into heaven, “not to distance himself from our lowly state but that we, his members, might be confident of following where he, our Head and Founder, has gone before.” So as we profess our faith and as Christ nourishes us with his own life in Holy Communion, lets renew our firm belief in him. And lets ask for the strength never to be ashamed of bearing witness to the truth of Christ. Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 12:13:38 +0000
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