From the Gospel according to John. Jn 15:26, 16:4a
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Witnesses in Hard Times
When we give testimony, we usually talk about how well things have worked for us in life; of course, thanks to God. But the reality is that we can only truly give testimony of Christ when we are on our cross and through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. Only when we love in difficult situations—when the world is incapable of loving—can others see the supernatural action of the Holy Spirit in us.
The question is: Am I offering myself as a witness who suffers? If the answer is “yes,” then, as Jesus said: “When the time comes, you will remember that I told you.”
Applied to Married Life:
Michaela: Shawn, I love the Lord so much that I deeply desire for everyone to know Him.
Shawn: Then you have to bear witness to Him as a wife. How do you plan to do that?
Michaela: There’s only one way: by loving you in the most difficult moments.
Shawn: That’s a tough challenge, because when I get difficult… I really make it hard for you.
Michaela: Tell me about it… But I offer myself as a witness, ready to love you even through suffering, so that the Holy Spirit can act if He wills it.
Shawn: I can see you love the Lord very much.
Michaela: But I also offer myself because I want to love you deeply, in all those situations where I’ve not yet been able to love you as I should.
Mother,
We want to be spouses who bear witness to the Love of Christ. May He be praised forever.