Cave Chapel at Gethsemane
Acts of Apostles 5:27-33
Now that the baseball season has begun, it feels like a small sense of normality is happening. And with it comes a flood of memories about baseball games, hot dogs, popcorn and ‘take me out to the ball game.’ It reminds me of the very first game I ever went to. My Dad took us to the old RFK Stadium to watch the Senators play. I can still remember the first sight of the playing field; I don’t think I ever saw grass so green and so lush before; it was beautiful. We sat in the first row of the upper deck along the third base line and, at one point, I almost caught a foul ball. Even today I can still remember the names of every single player on the team, the smell of that fresh-cut grass and the taste of that ballpark hot dog!
The only thing that would have made the experience better is if I had been able to go onto the field and maybe toss the ball around or take a swing or two. But that wasn’t to be! As wonderful as the experience was, I was only a spectator and not an active participant. I was a witness!
Funny word – witness! It can mean a couple of very different things. In one aspect, it refers to a bystander, an onlooker of the action but not an active participant – just like my watching a baseball game. But if you look at its root in Olde English, it can also mean testimony, not merely viewing something but testifying to it, giving witness! And that is what’s happening in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The Apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin after they had been warned NOT to preach about Jesus! But they persisted! They were not just witnesses to Jesus’ words and miracles and Resurrection! They continue to ‘witness’ to their faith in their daily lives. Filled with the Spirit, they give testimony to Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection! They share their belief that Jesus is truly the Son of God.
But let’s be clear – ‘witness’ is not just a simple intellectual exercise. It is not merely a mind game; it is not just a string of words! Witnessing to Jesus involves our entire self – body and soul, head and heart. It means that we are called to live out that belief in our daily lives! We are called to demonstrate that belief in our actions with others. And not just once, not just occasionally but day in and day out. Our life is to be a reflection of our belief! We are all called to a life of witness!
Wow! Things just got a lot more difficult. How in the world can I do that? I know I’m gonna mess up; I know I am gonna stumble and fall. I can’t do this by myself! Today’s Gospel addresses that as well. “God does not ration out the gift of the Spirit.” The Spirit! The Spirit will be there to guide us, support us, calm us down and energize us to move forward.
You are not alone! Believe in me and trust in the Spirit! Quit sitting on the sidelines; stop being just a bystander! Be a witness to your Faith!