Testimony. To witness Jesus.

What experiences do we have with the testimony of faith? Haven’t you noticed that even “Christians” are ashamed to confess their faith? The man was talking about his co-worker. One day, this co-worker visited me. As I spoke, I asked him, “Have you ever heard the Gospel?” “No,” he answered, “but I have seen it.” I know a man who was the terror of the whole neighborhood. He was an alcoholic and a drug addict; he was as dangerous as a wild beast. But he was utterly changed by the influence of the gospel. Now he is kind and good and has given up alcohol altogether.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus was not accepted by his natives because the words came out of his mouth: “You will remind me of the words: Physician, heal yourself!” We have heard all that happened in Capernaum; do the same here, in your homeland” (Lk 4:23). The Lord Jesus comes to his people, and they know him: Joseph’s son. They recognize him as their countryman, of course – and as such, he is not attractive to them, and they show him no recognition. They know him as their countryman – but not as the Messiah. As such, he wants to introduce himself to them when he reads the Messianic passage from the prophet Isaiah; the prophet points to him, but they do not accept it in mind or heart. When we look at the example of those Nazarenes, we can understand what it means to know Christ. It means to come out of darkness, from the darkness of error, deception, and insincerity. To know Christ means to free oneself from egoism, avarice, pride, sensuality, and comfort; allowing yourself to tell the truth – above all, the truth about yourself; it means accepting the truth – even if it’s unpleasant, complex, or inconvenient. Lord Jesus will not spare us such facts, even though we are his own for him – precisely because we are his own.

When he became man, Christ found his homeland among us; let him be a rare prophet in this country, even if he reveals brutal truths to us; for these truths, for our liberation from darkness, he sacrificed his life. No one is a prophet in his own country. The proverb can be misused. Jesus asks us to bear witness to the truth in this world, in the environment where we live and work. That is, to resist the false currents of the present, showing in one’s life that it is possible to live in a different, more beautiful, and perfect way. This will make many around us question the meaning of life.

Our testimonies with preaching about faith can be different. It is necessary that we first look carefully at our life. We do not want others to do what we do not do. The father says: The son drank, he also hit me… I once shouted at him: “Did they teach you that in religion and church?” He answered me: “Shut up! I never saw you as a Christian.” That day, I entered my conscience and changed my life.” From each other and for each other, I need to live the testimony of faith.