Homily: Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent 2016 - Five Witnesses

There is a wonderful movie out in the movie theaters right now called “Risen”. The movie centers on a Roman military official who witnessed the execution of Jesus on Good Friday.  When the body of Jesus goes missing on Easter Sunday, the Roman Tribune is ordered by Pontius Pilate to investigate the rumors of Jesus’ resurrection. 

As the military tribune is investigating rumors of Jesus’ resurrection, he also seeks to understand who Jesus was, who is his apostles’ claim him to be: who was this man, whom he saw crucified?

As we grow closer to Holy Week, the scriptures take up the topic of Jesus’ identity: “Who is this man Jesus, whom his followers call, Messiah?”  In the Gospel today, Jesus says, "do you want to know who I am? Here are 5 witnesses who can testify to my real identity."

John the Baptist can testify to my identity, my heavenly father can testify to my identity, my works and deeds can testify to my identity, the scriptures, the old testament, can testify to my identity, and Moses testifies to my identity.

In Jesus’ times, in a court case, to prove something you needed simply two witnesses, well Jesus lists five witnesses all who testify to his identity.  And each of us should be familiar with these five witnesses, so that if anyone ever asked us why we believe Jesus to be the saving son of God, we too could explain our faith, by pointing to these witnesses.

How did John the Baptist testify to Jesus? John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” John said, “I must decrease so that Jesus may increase”

How did the father testify to Jesus’ identity? Twice, the voice from heaven said, “this is my beloved Son.” Once at Jesus’ baptism and again on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The works of Jesus testify to his identity: the miraculous healings of blind, lame, leprous, paralyzed, possessed, his changing water into wine, walking on water, calming storms, and of course rising from the dead.  Why do we believe in Jesus? Look at his works!

Fourthly, Jesus says the scriptures testify to his identity.  When Jesus spoke the New Testament had not yet been written, so he is speaking about the Old Testament.  Through the course of their lives, many Catholics watch thousands of hours of television, but have never read the Old Testament.  St. Jerome taught: “To be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ.” Each of us do well to read and study the Hebrew Scriptures, because they point to Jesus and testify to Jesus; Jesus is in every book of the Bible, we just have to look for Him.

Finally, Jesus says, Moses testifies: all of Moses’ life testifies to Jesus, the better we know the life and teachings of Moses the better we will know Christ.  Not only did Moses speak of a great prophet who would come after him, but Moses’ life is in a way, fulfilled by Jesus.  After 40 days and 40 nights, Moses from the mountain gave the Old Law; after 40 days and 40 nights in the desert, Jesus climbed the mountain of beatitudes and gave the new law; Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery through the waters of the Red Sea to the promised land; Jesus leads us out of the slavery of sin through the waters of baptism to the promised land of heaven.

These mighty witnesses help to strengthen our faith this Lent. The better we know these testimonies, the better we will understand Jesus. This Lent Jesus invites us to be purified of our ignorance by the light of truth. May we accept his invitation, to learn of him, that we may more deeply love Him, and lead others to Him for the glory of God and salvation of souls.