Sunday II of Christmas: Don’t be afraid to be witnesses

January 5, 2025.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 2, 6-9)

                Frequently, the experience of a Christian in today’s world is that of someone who is harassed. They bomb you wherever, the same in the home as outside of it. You feel beseeched to justify real or supposed sins that the Church has committed in its two thousand years of history. Moreover, you are asked for explanations as to why the Church maintains this are that moral law despite environmental pressure. And, lastly, they hold you, as believer in God, responsible not only for natural disasters, but also for all the misfortunes caused by the evil in man. Facing this, the Christian tends to shrink, to flee from debate, and finally to live his faith in a concealed manner, for fear of the storm that occurs around him if he admits it.

                However, we should pay attention to our predecessors; to those who lived in the times of the martyrs and who they themselves were martyrs. For example, Saint Ignatius of Antioquia, who was martyred in Rome and who did not doubt to say that, in face of his persecution, there is no need for eloquent speeches but for great souls. And this signifies that, in this hostile context in which we live, what we must do is be ready to accept humiliation, criticism or scorn. All this before hiding our faith. For the rest, it doesn’t matter if we admit we don’t have answers to all the questions they ask us, or defend the church as John Paul II: admit that errors were committed, but that there have been many more successes than failures and no one usually speaks of the successes.

Intentions: Don’t be afraid to stand up for Christ, with arguments if you have or with humble testimony that for us to be with the Lord is have found happiness.