Be careful how you live. Someone is always watching and will look to you as an example, an excuse, or a warning

“If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. But do not care to convince him. Men will believe what they see. Let them see.” ― Henry David Thoreau: (1817 – 1862: was an American author, poet, & philosopher)

Gospel Text: (JN 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?”

Here we see Jesus arguing with His enemies. And He shows them their bad faith. He tells them that if they judge Him fairly, objectively and without any prejudice, they would have every reason to accept His words that He is the one being sent by God; about His Messianic claim and equality with God.

In our case as Catholics in the year 2016, we are called to be witnesses to our belief in Christ, no different then the Catholics 2000 years ago.  We become witnesses because of the Sacrament of Confirmation that we received.

The best way of witnessing to Jesus is: First through a consistent life.  If we truly live as children of God, then we will practice the two great commandments of love and charity and we will be filled with joy.  Charity and joy are two of the most convincing arguments in favor of our faith in Him.

Second is believing in His Word in the Bible. The Father gives witness to Jesus through the Scriptures. For me, I do believe in everything God tells me in the Bible because it is God who tells me. I take Him for His word because He is God and God cannot lie. God gives us reasons to believe in Him found in the prophecies of Scriptures. The entire Old Testament tells us that God prepares His people for the coming of His Son, Jesus. He leaves indications about: the place of His birth, where He would grow up, what His public ministry is going to be like and how He is going to die.

And so therefore, Christ asks each one of us today: “How do we approach God’s word in the Bible? What is our attitude as we read God’s word?”