How do I live as a witness to Christ’s message?
My father passed away when I was 16 years old. I was in the tenth grade, frozen with fear, and not sure how our family would survive without this vibrant man we loved so much. Sitting in church at the funeral, I had wept during most of the Mass. Then after Communion, a calm settled over me. As I prayed I heard a presence telling me that everything was going to be okay. I was filled with a quiet understanding that my father was now in the hands of God.
When I share this witness with the Faith Formation kids, they ask me, “How do you know it was God who spoke to you?” I tell them that because it was through the presence of the Holy Spirit that was given to me at Baptism and chosen by me at Confirmation that I have become a witness. Through the Holy Spirit the Lord has touched my life and now I am asked to share that witness of his presence.
Many feel that when Jesus ascended into heaven he left us for good, abandoned us and distanced himself from us. However, that is far from the truth. He sent his Spirit upon us and calls us to be a witness of his presence in today’s world. When was the last time you were a witness of Christ? When have you opened yourself to your spouse, children, and others about Christ in your life? Let us remember that we are all given a part in sharing Christ’s message.
