Witnesses to Jesus

Today's Reflection

 

Witnesses to Jesus 

 

Jn 5:33-36

[Jesus said to the Jews,] ³³“You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. ³⁴I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. ³⁵He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. ³⁶But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” 

He testified to the truth. The start of our Christmas novena, our immediate preparation for the feast of Jesus’ birth, invites us to look to John the Baptist. Whichever Gospel reading we proclaim for today, we are made to appreciate John as a martyr of the truth. Mt 21 declares: John comes “in the way of righteousness.” Jn 5 proclaims him as “a burning and shining lamp” who “testified to the truth.” Our Savior Jesus will reveal himself later as “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).

The feast of Christmas with its “celebration of lights” then calls us to live in truthfulness and faithfulness. If our examination of conscience makes us see ourselves as deficient in this regard, conversion—“changing your mind and believing”—is always a timely call!

In relation to your state of life,

what concrete marks of truthful and faithful living

have you missed? Make a good Confession

during one of these days of the Christmas novena.