"...what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of Life – for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us – " (1 Jn 1:1-2)
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Kipling in his poem called "Mulholland’s Vow" tells the story of a cattle-man on a ship. A storm broke out and in the storm the steers broke loose. The cowboy made a bargain with God that, if he saved him from the plunging horns and hooves, he would serve him from that time on.
When he got safely to land, he proposed to keep his part of the bargain; but his idea was to preach religion where no one knew him. Then came God’s command. "Back you go to the cattle-boats and preach my Gospel there."
God sent him back to the place that he knew and that knew him. Our Christian witness, like our Christian charity, must begin at home. (William Barclay) [1]
Today’s Bible Sharing is related to yesterday’s because it concerns the same topic of witnessing. We commemorate St. John the Evangelist’s feast this day and in his very first letter he speaks of giving testimony to what he has seen and heard. In the same measure we are being asked to testify to everything that God has done in our lives.
In the above narrative we are being reminded that witnessing for Christ must begin in our own homes. The first beneficiaries of our evangelization initiatives ought to be members of our families, more specifically, the children whom we have brought up. Since we parents are their first teachers, we should be able to instill good, Christian and morally-upright values that will help them deal with temptations and other worldly enticements in their adult years.
When our children have been brought up in an atmosphere where it is normal to speak about spiritual matters, there is naturalness in sharing about how God is actively working in their lives. There also is an openness to receive God’s message from whomever the Almighty has chosen as His messengers.
In yesterday’s Bible Sharing we spoke about witnessing more by deeds than by words. Where those with whom we happen to be are uncomfortable discussing profound issues of our faith, it may be better to give testimony through our good behavior and Christian charity.
We do not even have to verbally preach the Gospel. We can always proclaim the good news through our actions or casually mention the good things that the Lord has done for us. Unless we let others know of God’s love, as we have personally experienced it in our lives, how can the rest of the world know about it?
Let us always proclaim what we have personally seen and heard, to which St. John exhorts us. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be able to do so, whenever the opportunity presents itself.
When he got safely to land, he proposed to keep his part of the bargain; but his idea was to preach religion where no one knew him. Then came God’s command. "Back you go to the cattle-boats and preach my Gospel there."
God sent him back to the place that he knew and that knew him. Our Christian witness, like our Christian charity, must begin at home. (William Barclay) [1]
Today’s Bible Sharing is related to yesterday’s because it concerns the same topic of witnessing. We commemorate St. John the Evangelist’s feast this day and in his very first letter he speaks of giving testimony to what he has seen and heard. In the same measure we are being asked to testify to everything that God has done in our lives.
In the above narrative we are being reminded that witnessing for Christ must begin in our own homes. The first beneficiaries of our evangelization initiatives ought to be members of our families, more specifically, the children whom we have brought up. Since we parents are their first teachers, we should be able to instill good, Christian and morally-upright values that will help them deal with temptations and other worldly enticements in their adult years.
When our children have been brought up in an atmosphere where it is normal to speak about spiritual matters, there is naturalness in sharing about how God is actively working in their lives. There also is an openness to receive God’s message from whomever the Almighty has chosen as His messengers.
In yesterday’s Bible Sharing we spoke about witnessing more by deeds than by words. Where those with whom we happen to be are uncomfortable discussing profound issues of our faith, it may be better to give testimony through our good behavior and Christian charity.
We do not even have to verbally preach the Gospel. We can always proclaim the good news through our actions or casually mention the good things that the Lord has done for us. Unless we let others know of God’s love, as we have personally experienced it in our lives, how can the rest of the world know about it?
Let us always proclaim what we have personally seen and heard, to which St. John exhorts us. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be able to do so, whenever the opportunity presents itself.
End Notes for this Bible Sharing
1. "The Millennium Stories" by Frank Mihalic, SVD, n. 333, "Witness Begins at Home," pp. 165-166, Logos (Divine Word) Publications, Inc., Manila, 1997.
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