Today we celebrate world communication Sunday, a day we revisit our mode of evangelisation, which is centred on the communication of God’s love that was made concrete in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In a typical communication, there are four basic components: the sender, message, receiver or audience and the feedback. God the Father who is the sender or the source, sent his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to save humanity. We are the receivers of God’s love, the beneficiaries of his Word that took flesh. The feedback is the fruit we bear having heard the word of God.
The message of God’s love is said to have been effective, when it finds a special place in the heart of the people and not necessarily on their lips. We can sing or chorus a well-versed message of salvation, without embodying its real content. More so, our message is useless if it is not understood by those who hear us. We may be intelligent and eloquent, but if those who listen to us do not imbibe the values we communicate, it is either we change our audience, or we review our style.
Stephen in the first reading exemplified the true meaning of it means to put on the life of Christ. He surrendered his spirit to Christ, having declared his forgiveness for his executioners. “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep…….” Acts 7:55-60. The attitude of Stephen is the attitude of Christ. Our oneness in Christ can only be understood in the context of the life we live after his example not by what we say in his name.
“At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and praying said, ‘[Holy Father,] I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me”
The unity of believers is enough testimony of God’s presence among us. We need to be united to face moments of persecutions and tribulations. Our unity must be evident in the way we live. Like Stephen, may we always put on the life of Christ. Having a common Master, Jesus, common, Lord, common experience, and common obedience, we can face our trying times together. May we always be one. Amen.
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