Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28
Once I came across a movie titled ‘For Greater Glory.’ This movie changed my perspective on what does it mean to be a witness of Christ. This movie depicts the heroic story of young St. José Luis Sánchez Del Río. He was born on March 28, 1913, in Sahuayo, in Mexico. The country underwent severe religious persecution due to the anti-Christian attitude of the government. They eliminated church privileges and seized the church properties, closed down religious schools, convents, the exile or execution of priests, and anti-clerical laws written into the Mexican constitution, etc. As a result, the Cristero war was broken out in Mexico. José was extraordinarily devoted and passionate about Christ. He joined in the Cristero movement to liberate and reestablish religious freedom in the country. He carried out simple tasks in the troop such as seeing the logistics of those who are fighting the battle for faith. Once during the attack between Cristero troops and federal forces, José sacrificed his horse to help the general whose horse was seriously wounded.
Unfortunately, José was captured by the federal forces. He had to undergo severe physical and mental torture in imprisonment. They compelled him to deny his faith in Christ. José rejected all the offers to escape from the prison heroically and remained as a faithful witness of Christ. The soldiers tortured him by cutting the bottom of his feet and asked him to walk barefoot to the cemetery for his final execution. The path to the cemetery was soaked with the blood of José. Even then they were not satisfied by the suffering of this young boy. They stabbed him repeatedly and each time José shouted: “Long live Christ the King! Long live Holy Mary of Guadalupe!” Then they short twice on his head and buried the lifeless body of José in that cemetery. Thus he became a martyr for Christ on 10 February 1928. He was canonized by Pope Francis on 16 October 2016.
“God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.” (George Whitefield) Being a follower of Christ is a vocation to be a witness to the person of Christ and for his Good News. This was the final command that Jesus entrusted to his disciples and be his witnesses to the end of the world. The impact of our witness depends on the authenticity of the person who shares the witness. Every witness derives from one’s encounter and relationship with God. In today’s gospel, we see John presents himself as a witness to Christ. When people asked him about his identity, the answer that John gives is that he is only a witness.’
He came to bear witness to the light. Did John have a personal encounter with Christ beforehand? It is quite clear from the scripture that John did not have a personal encounter with Christ before his baptism. Anyhow, stating this fact, John the evangelist invites us to reflect on the divinity of Jesus, who is the eternal Word and the Light. John came to give witness to the light that is going to enlighten all those who lived in darkness. Though John did not have a personal encounter with Christ, he enjoyed a deep intimacy with our Abba, who had chosen him to prepare the way for the Messiah. Out of this personal God encounter, John derives his witness for Christ.
Being a witness of Christ was not an easy task. When John testified the light, the powers of darkness turned against him. His witness disturbed several people. In the gospel we see religious leaders asking John, who are you? Because they recognized that John was not an ordinary person. His witness was authentic and people flocked to him. They keenly listened to the teachings of John. When people flocked to him, He could have very well introduced himself as Messiah or Prophet Elijah, etc. However, John remained a humble servant of Yahweh and gave priority to his witness than his name and fame. He says: “I am not fit to undo his sandals.” It underlies the spiritual depth and the glory of one who comes and placing his life as a witness to him.
As we are in the season of advent, let us examine and see the nature of witness that we live? Did our witness inspire anyone to follow Jesus? If we have not grown sufficiently in our faith, then our shallow faith cannot produce a witness that inspires others to follow the person of Jesus. Like John let us realize the fact that the quality of our witness derives from our relationship with God. Therefore, let us make all our best effort to grow in our faith so that we may be able to give an authentic witness to Christ with our life examples like St. José Luis Sánchez Del Río and inspire more and more people to follow Christ…