5 April, Sunday — Behold the Man

Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34,37-43
1 Cor 5:6-8
Jn 20:1-9

“Now we are those witnesses…”

I am sure that most of us would be asked to be a witness at some point of time in our lives. It could be a witness to a legal agreement, a witness at a friend’s wedding, or even witnessing the baptisms of the neophytes at Easter Vigils. Have we given a second thought about these acts of witnessing, and how by this witnessing, we can help to impact the lives of others?

The early disciples were witnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and their lives were clearly impacted. Some of these disciples, who were uneducated fishermen, suddenly found courage to preach this new religion to the ones that killed Jesus, and even travelled thousands and thousands of kilometres to spread the gospel to those that did not believe. Why would they do it and what made them go to the ends of the earth, even at the cost of their own lives, to preach the teachings of this one man that lived two thousand plus years ago?

I believe that it must have been more than just the miracles that they saw. It must be more than just listening to the teachings that cut to their hearts, and it must even be more than the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them for forty days after the fact. They must have witnessed how Jesus ‘walked the talk’ and showed compassion and love to all.

I am a firm proponent of ‘walking the talk’ and the people that I admire (there are not many of them) always lead/show by example. Being the sceptic that I am, I am not really impressed with someone that speaks in a posh accent, uses flowery language or just because he cuts an impressive figure in a well-made suit. So, I learn from the people that I admire, how to be a better version of myself, how to be a better leader and, more importantly, how to love more.

For us, to help us be more credible witnesses to our faith, I believe that we just have to look towards the saints and how they lived their lives. Some of us would think that all the saints lived good and saintly lives, but actually most of the greatest saints were also the greatest sinners. How they managed to turn their lives around and lived a life according to Christ’s ways, is something that we can learn much from and be inspired by.

Recently, I had the blessing of being able to visit Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis and St Clare of Assisi. While there, I was immersed in the life of Francis and how his aim was to be like Christ in everything, With Christ as his example, Francis swore away his family’s wealth, choosing to beg and to minister among the poor. Wearing a coarse woollen tunic like that of the poorest peasants and tying it with a simple knotted rope, he went from village to village calling others to repentance, brotherly love, and peace.

Within a year, his way of life attracted 11 followers, some of them were his friends from the rich families of Assisi. He was simply inspired to live as Christ did. One of the quotes that was attributed to Francis resounds deeply within me: “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary”. While some scholars have debated if Francis actually quoted this, this helps me to live out my Christian mission and how I have always valued actions over talk. I hope to show that by my actions, I am a witness to my faith and to Jesus.

I am a sinner — I acknowledge and do not hide this. I know that I am still a work in progress. I admit, I may, at times, exhibit aloofness, arrogance and disdain to people that do not share my beliefs; but deep down, I want to be a witness to how Jesus has been such an influence in my life and that without His guidance and example, I would not be the person that I am today. I still have much to learn, especially how to love my neighbour more. But I pray to the saints for their intercession, that I may learn from their behaviour and their lives, to become more like Christ. In the way that I can be a worthwhile witness as I interact with my family, friends and co-workers.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are our Lord. We humbly ask for a simple faith, to let our hearts be open to your prompting and the courage to do your will. And by doing so, grant us your peace and love as we seek to be witnesses to our faith. Amen.

Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the saints and their lives. We pray to the saints for their intercession, that they may continue to inspire in us a strong faith and the perseverance to live lives that are inspired by them. Amen.