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Testifying to the Truth
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of
him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said
to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask
the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go
on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among
wolves.” Luke 10:1–3
One of the clearest safeguards for ensuring the authenticity and
integrity of Christian duty is that we proclaim the Gospel in
communion with others. The Christian disciple is never a lone
ranger. We do not carry the mission of Christ by private
inspiration or isolated insight, but in the context of the Church.
The Gospel we preach is not our own. It originates in God, is
handed on through Sacred Tradition, and is entrusted to the Church
as a whole.
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples, He sent them in
pairs. This had deep theological and scriptural significance.
According to Mosaic Law, the testimony of two or three witnesses
was necessary to establish truth (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). This
standard was well known in Jewish culture and was traditionally
applied to legal cases, but Jesus elevated it to strengthen the
credibility of evangelization. Two disciples witnessing together to
the truth of the Gospel would speak with a kind of moral and
spiritual authority that mirrored this ancient tradition. Moreover,
when we speak in union with the Church and act in concert with
other faithful witnesses, our united work of evangelization becomes
a harmonious echo of God’s Word rather than a solitary voice
subject to distortion.
Even our Lord Himself respected this principle. When the Pharisees
challenged Jesus for speaking on His own authority, He responded,
“Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be
verified… I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent
me” (cf. John 8:14, 18). Jesus makes clear that He does not speak
in isolation; the Father testifies on His behalf. Thus, even the
Son, in His earthly mission, models the humility of cooperative
testimony.
Consider your own duty to testify to the truth of the Gospel. The
Twelve whom Jesus had earlier sent represent the bishops of the
Church, who form the foundation of Christ’s mission through their
participation in apostolic succession. In today’s Gospel, the
seventy-two represent every disciple of Christ, including each of
us today. Discipleship is much more than following Jesus through a
personal devotion to Him and His teachings. It also includes being
sent by Him. Once we receive the Gospel and interiorize it through
living faith and prayer, we will then be sent by Christ to go forth
and testify to the truth we have received. This is not an option;
it’s a necessity.
How well do you do this? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of
thinking that our faith is something personal that we keep to
ourselves. But it is not. It must be shared, and if we are
disciples, then we are also evangelists.
Being an evangelist does not necessarily mean we enter into a
full-time apostolate by which we preach and teach as we travel from
town to town. For most, evangelization takes place in the ordinary
rhythms of life—in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and
social settings. It means living our faith with authenticity,
speaking the truth with charity, and radiating Christ through our
actions as well as our words. It means being willing to witness to
the Gospel even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular, or rejected,
and doing so in union with others in the faith.
Reflect today on whether you are testifying to the truth in the way
God is asking of you. Have you embraced both the privilege and the
responsibility of being sent? Resolve to go forth with the courage
of a lamb in the midst of wolves, never alone, but always in
communion with Christ and His Church, bearing witness to the
Kingdom that is at hand. Doing so will not only bring blessings to
others, it will also deepen your faith and communion with
God.
My Lord and Living Word, Your voice must go out to the ends of
the earth, drawing many to You through the members of Your Mystical
Body, the Church. Please draw me close to You, dear Lord, and when
I am ready, send me forth with others to testify to the Truth of
Your saving Word. Use me as an instrument of Your grace, that
through my witness, You may draw many souls into the glory of Your
Eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
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