Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 30th week in ordinary time, October 31, 2025
Our meditation today is entitled: Witnessing for Jesus Christ. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Rome, he affirmed with conviction that he was "telling the truth and not lying" about his faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 9:1). This statement is not just a self-defense, but a testimony of someone who dares to let go of everything that used to be his pride.
As a devout Jew and educated in the law, Paul had an honorable position among his people. However, when he came to know Christ, his whole life changed. He had to leave the comfort zone of his old tradition for the sake of the gospel truth he found in Jesus. He embraced new life in Jesus who converted him and led him to the truth.
Paul experienced a deep inner struggle because his decision of faith set him apart from his fellow countrymen. He grieved that many Jews rejected Christ, even though it was from them that the promise of salvation came. In that mental anguish, Paul realized that faithfulness to Christ should really lead people to take up the cross of separation —even of those we love. However, he did not stop in grief. He took the wound as an opportunity to testify, because for him to know Christ was far more precious than anything he had ever had.
This is where we learn that witnessing for Christ does not always mean speaking out loud or preaching in front of a multitude. Witnessing also means the courage to remain true to the truths of the gospel even if we have to lose comfort, relationships, or the recognition of the world. Paul shows that true faith does not stop at lip recognition, but is manifested in a renewed life. In Christ, he found a new meaning: no longer to live according to the law, but to live in liberating grace.
Jesus himself has shown that the truth and love that He brings will separate the believers and those who reject. His teaching on the Sabbath day is a clear example: while many people blindly obey the rules, Jesus puts love and human salvation first. "The Sabbath was kept for man, not man for the Sabbath," He says (Mark 2:27). This Word reveals that true faith is not a matter of ritual, but of a willing heart of love. Thus, those who follow Jesus must be prepared for a separation —between those who close themselves off in the rules, and those who are open to saving love.
Like Paul, we too are called to testify for Jesus Christ today. The modern world offers many things that seem interesting, but often drown out the value of truth and love. To testify for Christ means to dare to choose love in the midst of hatred, honesty in the midst of falsehood, and forgiveness in the midst of revenge. It is this kind of testimony that keeps Christ present in the world: not just through words, but through life that is a mirror of His love.
Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Almighty God, imbue us with Your Spirit who teaches us all truth. May we be more able to bear witness to Your truth. Glory to the Father ... In the name of the Father ...
