3rd Sunday of Easter Year B
Acts 3:13-15.17-19ab 1 John 2:1-5a Luke 24:35-48
Theme: You are Witnesses
Today is the third Sunday of Easter Year B. In our liturgy one word that comes through our reading is the word ‘witnessing’. In our first reading, we see Peter witnessing to the resurrected Christ, by ministering to the people and making them come to terms with the reality that Jesus has resurrected from the dead. He also went a step further by making excuses for their leaders and themselves. His action shows us that as disciples and witnesses we must be slow in judging people and imbibe the way of Jesus through showing mercy. Like Jesus, we must be patient and give people the opportunity to come out of their ignorance, to come out of their darkness and embrace Christ who is the resurrected light amongst us.
When you look at the second reading of today, you see an injunction given to us by John himself who says that to keep the commandment of God, one needs to be a true follower and disciple of God. He points out the fact that one of the ways to witness for Christ in our time is by living out the word of God in our daily lives. As we live out his commandments, we become true witnesses of his word that we hear and carry in our lives.
Lastly in the gospel reading for this Sunday, we find out the mandate given by Jesus himself as he admonishes and tries to strengthen the faith of his disciples. He eats with the people and use the opportunity to teach them something new about his mission and presence in their midst. By so doing raising their consciousness about the need to be true witnesses of his presence among his people. When we take all these into consideration, one thing that readily comes to mind is the fact that we are all called to witness to the resurrected Christ in our daily lives with the type of life we lead.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, a very important question we need to ask ourselves is ‘what is the quality of my witnessing for Christ?’ It is important that our daily lives show that we are truly ambassadors for Christ by our way of living. By so doing, our witnessing will bear lasting fruits in the lives of all those who encounter us at one time or the other in our journey of faith.
We pray that God will grant us the grace to be true witnesses of Christ wherever we find ourselves, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.