Monday
of the 6th Week of Easter
May 2, 2016 8:30am
Readings: Acts
16.11-15
John
15.26-16.4a
Today Jesus talks about
testifying or giving testimony to him.
He says that the Spirit will do
this and we are also to do this.
Usually, the Holy Spirit gives
testimony to Jesus in our hearts.
The Spirit moves us from within
and, in that way, speaks gently and quietly.
I think the testimony we are to
give to the Lord is usually like that.
It is not an in-your-face,
here’s-the-truth, take-it-or-leave-it type of thing.
My experience is that our best
testimony to Jesus is usually gentler and quieter, much as the Holy Spirit
works within us.
We see a good example of this
with Paul in the first reading.
Paul simply sat and had a
conversation with some women in this town.
And before long, these women
wanted to be part of the community of faith also.
So maybe our testimony to Jesus
is just being there for someone dealing with depression.
Maybe it is bringing a meal for a
neighbor who is grieving the loss of a husband or wife.
Maybe it is offering a word of
encouragement to a teen who doesn’t know where she or he is heading.
Maybe it is giving a copy of the
pocket gospels to a person who is wondering about what life is all about.
Maybe it is telling someone how
God and prayer keep it together for us.
Our testimony, like that of the
Holy Spirit, is best when it meets another person right where they are and in
that way is respectful of them.
Then it is a helpful testimony.
Then it is the work of the Holy
Spirit of God within us.
