Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 5, 31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But 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.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?”

Testimony liberates

1.  Giving testimony. That means expressing what we have lived. Jesus bears witness to the truth, to the supernatural. The apostles give testimony of the experience they live with Jesus. The saints testify to their intimate encounter with God. When you meet Christ, when you really find him, you have a beautiful experience that changes your life, and you also ‘irradiate’ Christ. It’s like you “Christify” yourself, because by having him in you, you take him to others.  What do you give testimony of?

2. The word remains. Our life as Catholics does not have an expiration date. On the contrary, you always belong to Christ, and you must remember that we are not actors who show our Catholic badge when the spotlight is turned on. We are Christians 24 hours a day, both at Mass when we beat our chests and when we go to play a soccer or baseball game or go shopping. We are Christians when we pray the rosary, and when we go out with friends. This does not mean being stiff or fanatical, it only means being normal Christians.

3. Believe. Your life can change dramatically with a little faith. Life can be hard and difficult, but faith soothes and lifts you up. Don’t be afraid to believe, don’t be afraid to deepen your faith. Believe! Jesus leads you to see life in a different way and through his grace, you become a person of life. Christ came so that you might have life and have it more abundantly.

Remember that something good is on the way!  

God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.