We should think of it as sharing the joy we’ve experienced, not coercing people to follow Jesus
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:48)
It would be helpful, as part of our Easter celebration, to think about how we can give better witness to the “kerygma” — the basic proclamation of the Gospel. Here are some ideas.
1. God’s plan for us
God’s plan and desire, rooted in His love for us, is that we would live forever with Him in heaven. How can we give witness to that?
Maybe the way St. John Paul II did — through our knowledge of salvation history and how it begins with the mystery of God’s eternal life, the various ways God enters into human history and how we are invited to enter into God’s life.
Or maybe the way C.S. Lewis did — through our attention to our own experience of a longing that can’t be fulfilled by anything in this world, a hunger planted in us as a sign that our whole being is oriented toward eternity.
2. Sin and its consequences
While God’s plan and desire is for us to enter eternal life, something is wrong. Our lives are like a dislocated bone: Something is out of alignment … and it hurts. If we’re sons and daughters of the king — and we are! — we’re living in captivity. How can we give witness to that?
Maybe through our own personal experience of sin. Which of us can’t pray Psalm 51 from the depths of our own experience? “Have mercy on me God, in your kindness. In your compassion, blot out my offense … My sin is always before me.”
Maybe through our knowledge of biblical examples — the book of Judges is an excellent case study, showing a repeated cycle of sin and its consequences.
Or maybe simply by reading the daily news, which can be painful to read. Why is the news painful to read? Because things are what they are, but something tells us they are not as they ought to be.
3. God’s answer to our problem: Jesus
Fortunately for us, God makes our problem His problem. He brings a solution to our “dislocation” by sending His Son, Jesus, to live, die and rise from the dead, that the gates of heaven might be opened to sinners. How can we give witness to that?
Maybe through sharing the basic Gospel message with others — watch how Peter does it in Acts 2, 3 and 4!
Or maybe through sharing our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ — that’s not the exclusive domain of our Protestant brothers and sisters!
4. The invitation to respond and follow Jesus
Jesus came to redeem us. But that doesn’t make our redemption automatic! He opens the door; we have to choose to follow Him.
When it comes to giving witness to this we tend to think of “proselytizing” — brow-beating people into following Jesus. But that’s manipulation, not faith.
Then, because we’re afraid of proselytizing, we tend to fall silent and not share the call to follow Jesus.
It’s different if we think of it as an invitation — I’ve experienced joy, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a real relationship with Jesus, a foretaste of eternal life. Would you like to have that?
Conclusion
Friends, that may seem like a lot! Maybe it is. We’re not going to get good at giving witness to the elements of the kerygma overnight. But right now, as Church, we’re not good at any of them!
So, following the example of Mary Magdalene, how about we start working on it? Maybe, if we get a little better every year, the next decade will see us establish a vibrant culture of evangelization, where almost everyone knows how to give witness to all the elements of the kerygma.
Can I get a witness?
