That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus.
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
He is truly risen! Alleluia!
“Now I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God.”
Today’s Gospel picks up during the aftermath of Jesus’ baptism. Today’s passage taken from John’s gospel.
The first chapter of John’s gospel concerns testimony. St. John begins with an unequivocal statement of who Jesus is, the Word become flesh, the only Son of the Father.
John next testifies about himself, particularly when confronted by the Levites, priests, and Pharisees.
Then comes today’s passage where John testifies to Jesus. This passage ends with John saying, “Now I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God.”
Following today’s passage, we see John pointing his disciples to Jesus. Two go, including St. Andrew, why we refer to him as the First Called. Others soon follow – to do what? To testify to Jesus — Messiah, Savior, Redeemer, God with us.
We all know what testimony is in its practical sense. Think Perry Mason or other legal dramas – hopefully all on TV and none personal.
For us faithful, testimony is something more than just an attestation to facts. It is our open confession of faith in Jesus and a witnessing of our personal and communal experience with Jesus. Our testimony in most ways is our demonstration of our life transformation.
This is a good question to ask, especially in prayer – What has my experiences with Jesus brought to my life? What has God’s grace effected in me? How has my resulting testimony affected others?
Let us take these questions to our private prayer place and put them before God. Do that and the answers will come. For some it will be obvious and happen right away. For some it will be harder and take time. For some it will be individual witness, for others something done as part of a faith group, part of the Church. For some it will be simple kindnesses, for others bold charity toward the orphan, stranger, sick, or dying. For some it will be music, for others the charism of service. Having looked back let us then look forward to the testimony we bring today and all the days to come.
