The Witness of Love

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Readings: Acts 16:22-34 / John 16:5-11

Paul and Silas won the heart of the jailer, not by winning an argument, but by the witness of love. Even as they were beaten and chained up, they sang hymns and prayed through the night. They did not return anger for anger or violence for violence. And even when the earthquake opened the doors, they didn’t run. Why? Because their concern was not for themselves, for their safety or their escape. I think it was for the other prisons, and even the jailer. They were following the example of Our Lord, the Lamb who was led to slaughter, who cared more for our salvation than His own suffering.

And when the jailer saw their peace, their mercy, their love, he asked that critical question: “What must I do to be saved?” Paul could only answer that question— in fact, the jailer only asked him— because Paul had earned the right to be heard.

We, too, have to live in such a way that our lives provoke that question in others. And we won’t do it by being smug or self-assured, or through power or prestige, but through patient endurance, joyful faith, generous love. That’s how we become true witnesses of Christ.

Today, as we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, let’s ask for the grace to live so conformed to Him that someone might look at us and say, “That’s the life I want. How can I be saved?”

Always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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Pablo y Silas ganaron el corazón del carcelero, no con violencia, sino con el testimonio del amor. Aunque eran golpeados y encadenados, cantaban himnos y oraban toda la no he. Y aunque injustamente encarcelados, no mostraron enojo. Cuando el terremoto abrió las puertas, no huyeron. ¿Por qué? Porque su preocupación no era escapar, sino los otros encarcelados, incluso el carcelero mismo. Así imitaban a Cristo, el Cordero llevado al matadero, que se preocupó más por nuestra salvación que por su propio sufrimiento.

Al ver su paz, su misericordia, su amor, el carcelero hizo la pregunta más importante: “¿Qué debo hacer para salvarme?” Pablo pudo responder porque se había ganado el derecho de ser escuchado. Hermanos, también nosotros debemos vivir de tal forma que provoquemos esa pregunta en otros. No con violencia, poder o prestigio, sino con paciencia, fe gozosa y amor generoso. Así damos verdadero testimonio de Cristo.

Hoy, al recibir a Jesús en la Eucaristía, pidamos la gracia de vivir tan conformados a Él, que alguien nos mire y diga: “Esa es la vida que quiero. ¿Cómo puedo yo salvarme?”

Ahora y siempre, y por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.