How can we witness to the Resurrection of Our Lord?
In today’s first reading, we are presented with a powerful message from St.
Peter. He proclaims to the Israelites and to us, that the God of our ancestors,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has glorified His servant Jesus. However, Peter
does not shy away from pointing out the people’s betrayal and denial of Jesus in
the presence of Pilate. He reminds them that they chose to release a murderer
instead of “the Holy and Righteous One.” St. Peter declares that although they
put the author of life to death, God raised Him from the dead, and he and the
other disciples are witnesses to this extraordinary event.
The disciples’ first experience of seeing the wounds of the Risen Lord was
undoubtedly dramatic and astonishing; they could witness the physical evidence
of Jesus’ suffering and victory over death. While we may not see Jesus’ wounds
physically, we can encounter his wounds in the brokenness and suffering around
us. We see His wounds in the marginalized, the oppressed, the forgotten the
rejected – in the pain and injustice that exist in our world. It is in these wounded
spaces, that we are called to be witnesses of the Resurrection Lord.
In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus opened the minds of His disciples to understand
the Scriptures and sent them, and us to be witnesses of these things. The call to
witness the Resurrection of Jesus is not limited to magnificent or spectacular
acts but rather to live and preach the words of God by embodying the teachings
of Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions. It means seeking justice, showing
mercy, practicing forgiveness, and extending love to all those we encounter. It
means being a source of hope, healing, and reconciliation in a world that is
transformed by the resurrection.
In a society where success and recognition are highly valued, it can be
tempting to seek validation through fame or wealth; however, Jesus invites us to
shift our focus from outward appearances to the inward transformation of our
hearts. Our witness is not about impressing others or gaining recognition for
ourselves, but rather about pointing others towards Jesus’ love, redemption, and
forgiveness message. It is not enough to profess our faith; we must live it out in
practical and tangible ways.Fr. Dominic Toan Tran, Pastor
Dear brothers and sisters, we are not just observers but active participants in
this divine mission to be witnesses of the resurrection. Let us seek to see the
Risen Lord’s wounds in our world’s brokenness and respond with love,
compassion, and forgiveness. May our lives reflect the transformative power of
Christ’s resurrection, and may we be bold and courageous in proclaiming the
words of God through our thoughts, words, and actions.