Et virtute magna

reddebant apostoli testimonium
resurrectionis Domini Iesu

And with great power
gave the apostles witness
of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus

This phrase leaps out of today’s first reading (Acts 3:32-37).

In its most basic sense, this phrase summarizes the entire book of the Acts of the Apostles: all of Apostles’ preaching, all of their miracles, all of their courage, and every thing they did testified powerfully to the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This phrase also has a special resonance in these days following the death of Pope John Paul II.

This resonance is not just an ex officio association or an expression of ecclesiology.

It is evident in the great power of his words and his actions, his boldness in standing for the truth, and his zeal in testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus throughout the entire world.

But this Scripture is not just about the Apostles or official Church leaders.

High Church or Low Church, Catholic or Orthodox or Protestant, ordained or lay, each of us is called to give witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, each in the ways God sets before us.

We should give witness with great power: as bold instruments of the grace of God.

The world has lost a very high profile witness of Christ. The world also grows ever darker, as we have seen in the deaths of Terri Schiavo and of so many other helpless human beings in our world.

More and more, this darkening world needs powerful witnesses of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

We need to step up.

May Christ’s great grace be upon us all.