Wednesday of the
Second Week of Easter
(Acts 5:17-26; John 3:16-21)
There can be no doubt to whose life the angel refers to in
the first reading when he tells the apostles, “’Go and take you place in the
temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.’” At the
beginning of the Book of Acts as he is about to ascend into heaven, Jesus instructs
them “to be my witnesses” in Jerusalem and throughout the world. The angel is just reiterating that command.
Acts gives various examples of the apostolic witness. But the most famous summary of “this life” is seen in today’s
gospel. Jells tells Nicodemus, “’God so
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who
believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.’” Jesus is of God – His “Son.” He comes to testify to God’s love for “the
world” – all humanity. This love is most
powerfully witnessed when he willingly dies on the cross – among the cruelest
of sufferings ever endured.
The witness of love has been shown to us today through
the apostles, their successors, and many other true witnesses of Christ. It compels us to love others by sacrificing some
of our time, talent, and treasure. We are
more than willing to do this but not really for altruism’s sake. No, we love even when it hurts, as Jesus says,
so that we “’might have eternal life.’”
