By Most Rev. Salvadore Lobo,
Bishop of Baruipur
Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus, is the entire process of witnessing to and sharing with others the salvation wrought by Jesus of Nazareth. Whenever persons who have never heard the Good News of Jesus, or those who have been baptized but alienated from the Christian community, or those who have newly come to the faith and joined the community, benefit from the witness of dedicated Christians, evangelization takes place.
Thus they are introduced to the saving power and value of Jesus and led to respond positively to his call. This response involves conviction and a change of heart. Every Christian is a prophet. A prophet is not only one who predicts the future; he is first of all a herald, a word-bearer. A prophet is one who takes the word in the name of God, sees everything in the light of God and communicates God’s message to the people. Every Christian, at Baptism, receives an anointing which will be strengthened at Confirmation. Thanks to this anointing, he or she becomes a member of the priestly people, and has to continue the prophetic role of Christ. Thus, the Christian is called and sent to be a witness of Christ and a prophet of God, wherever he or she goes and whatever be his or her profession.
The dynamics of the Christian proclamation include daily Christian witness, pastoral outreach, preaching of the Gospel, life of prayer and worship, community building and service to society. That is to say, no aspect of life or activity of the Christian is alien to witnessing.
Karl Rahner has some very relevant words in this context: “The lot of those about whom the text of Matthew 10:27 speaks, falls on us Christians: ‘What I am telling you in the dark you must repeat in broad daylight, and what you have heard in private, you must announce from the house-tops.’ What one can hear only where the light of this world has been engulfed by the darkness of God, which does not speak in the uproar of many human words, must be said by us from the roofs and from the pulpits, from the benches of the school and the office, in the bar during the break of work, and after the cinema in the afternoons of feast-days … so that God reaches also there and man may be invited to listen where God expresses Himself in silence.”
On September 5, 1997, Mother Teresa passed away at the age of 87. Jacques Chirac, then French Prime Minister, declared when she died, “Tonight there is less love, less compassion, less light in the world.” Her popularity was seen at her death and on September 13, 1997, her funeral day. She was given a state funeral and many dignitaries of the world were present to pay her respects. Hindustan Times dated 14, 1997 reported, “The world was literally at her feet as the August assemblage of Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ambassadors of at least 42 countries including the USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia …..” Saint Pope John Paul II said, “Mother Teresa has lit a flame of love which must now be carried forward. Do not stop where she left off. The poor are still with us.” Her life was a fitting response for the call of Jesus she had received on September 10, 1946 on the way to Darjeeling.
Just as only a burning candle can give light, and also light up another candle, so also only a genuine Christian can give fruitful witness to Christ and lead another to Christ. Only faith can help kindle faith. The best way to bear witness to Christ is, as he himself has said, to let our light shine that others may see our good works and give glory to the Father rather than merely telling others how bright we are! In other words, genuine Christian spirituality is genuine Christian witnessing, and no authentic witnessing takes place where there is no authentic spiritual life.