Friday after the
Epiphany
(I John 5:5-13; Luke 5:12-16)
Today’s first reading speaks of three witnesses giving
testimony that Jesus is the Son of God. The
first testimony is water which may be a reference to Jesus being born of a
woman and all the works he did. He
showed himself to be sent from God by his preaching and healing. Of course, his supreme work was his death
which is symbolized by his blood. It was
on the cross that he showed the extent of the Father’s love for humanity. The Spirit which the Father has sent through
him is active in Christians who continue his saving work.
The Spirit enables us to perform heroic deeds. We can help the oppressed even though it may
bring about some loss. One man has
driven fifty miles every week for over twenty years to lead inmates of a state
prison in prayer. He is a cursillista
who chose prison ministry as his apostolate.
Some of us are called to give even fuller testimony. After ISIS made a spectacle of its bloody execution
of Christians on the shores of Africa last year, there was no mass exodus of
Middle Eastern Christians from the faith.
Jesus’ followers in Egypt, Syria and Iraq have maintained their
testimony of love for him and their fellow human.
