The Holy Spirit witnesses on Jesus' behalf (Jn 15:26), and we must do the same. The world is wrong about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is calling us to the witness stand to prove this (Jn 16:8). Our testimony will convict the world on three counts — that it is wrong about sin, justice, and condemnation (Jn 16:8). Because the world is guilty and our witness will prove it, the world will pressure us not to witness to the truth. It will make sure that if we witness for Jesus, we will be persecuted, rejected even at church, and possibly put to death (Jn 16:2).

Nevertheless, we must witness, for we are the evidence that Jesus is innocent, and the world guilty. We are not going to let people continue to reject Jesus. We are not going to let a rebellious, sinful world get off because of a mistrial. We will give our witness with power so that they can have no doubt about the truth (see Acts 4:33). We must repent of our false witness due to compromising with the world. We have to back up our words with a life of total commitment to the Lord. We need power from the Holy Spirit; then we will be Jesus' witnesses (Acts 1:8). The world will then be proven wrong and challenged to repent and believe in Jesus.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, XXX 11, 2011

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