Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

The Eleventh Beatitude

Second Sunday of Easter, April 23

Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31

There are more than eight beatitudes. In fact, Jesus gives at least ten during his public ministry. There are the traditional eight beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5: 1-12). Then there is the beatitude that Jesus gives when he teaches the crowd what it means to be part of his family: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:28). Jesus’ admonition on watchfulness is the tenth beatitude: “Blessed are these servants whom the Lord when he comes shall find watching” (Luke 12:37).

Today, the Resurrected Lord gives witness to the continuity between his earthly ministry and his resurrected life when he pronounces another beatitude: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). What Jesus is teaching the disciples, and through them, all of us, is that a real, living experience of the power of the Resurrected Lord is available to all who would “see” with the eyes of faith.

During Holy Week, Fr. Johndamaseni Zilimu, a Tanzanian priest studying at the University of Illinois, made an important distinction that to him was much clearer in our English language than in his native Swahili. I am referring to the distinction between “of” and “to” in these statements: “The disciples were witnesses of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.” And “The disciples became witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.” Fr. Johndamaseni’s point is that being a witness of something is to be able to report that it has happened, but being a witness to something (in this case to someone!) is quite different. It means being able to convey its meaning because one has a lived experience of the essence and reality of the event.

The disciples were witness of Jesus who became witnesses to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. We, who were not witnesses of Jesus’ public life, are called though to be witnesses to his life, death, and resurrection. This is possible by our lived experience of the power of the Resurrected Lord in our own hearts, minds, and lives.

This genuine encounter with the Risen Lord does for us what it did for the early Church. Through our relationship with him fear is overcome, peace is experienced, genuine community is formed, and we are set forth on a mission. With fear overcome and out of a strong and powerful communion, we are able to carry on the mission of Jesus to reveal to the world the merciful love of the Father.

Luke, today in the Acts of the Apostles, describes how this was indeed the life of the earliest Christian community (cf. Acts 4:32-35). This passage should also describe our Christian community today: a people of one mind and heart in the Lord, serving the common good especially those most in need (cf. Acts 4:32).

If we live this new “way”, this new life in Christ, we will become as individuals and as a community, witnesses to the Resurrected Lord. As the old gospel hymn reminds us: “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” In other words, people will know that Jesus is alive by our communal and individual witness to that power at work in our lives. People will indeed know Him by our love.