Witness

 “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers.” - Pope St. Paul VI

Jesus told his disciples, “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), tasking them with a sacred mission. To be a witness for Christ, they needed to embody His love and despise what He despised, with integrity and passion, even at the cost of their lives.

Unlike the first Christians, we may not face martyrdom, but being an authentic witness remains a difficult path. The word 'witness' comes from the Greek ‘martus,’ relating to giving testimony and deep personal conviction. This conviction is seen in the disciples on the road to Emmaus, when they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” Today, being a witness means cultivating genuine faith and living it authentically. Pope Francis adds, “A person is credible if there is harmony between what they believe and how they live.”

Living a Christ-centred life requires sacrifice, discipline, and putting a relationship with God above personal autonomy. It demands fidelity to the Church's teachings. Pope St. Paul VI posed three reflective questions: Do you believe what you are proclaiming? Do you live what you believe? Do you preach what you live? These questions should inspire us to deepen our faith.

Effective witness begins with prayer. From the Rosary to Christian meditation and the grace of the Eucharist, our tradition offers many ways to transform our lives. As a faith community, we can support each other in being Christ’s hands and feet in the world. Pope Francis reminds us, “Nourished by prayer and above all by love for the Eucharist, evangelization, in turn, increases holiness in those who carry it out.”

Lord, grant us strength to be the authentic witnesses you called us to be. Amen.