{"id":4263,"date":"2010-04-05T21:58:10","date_gmt":"2010-04-05T21:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2010\/04\/we-are-called-to-be-witnesses.html"},"modified":"2010-04-05T21:58:10","modified_gmt":"2010-04-05T21:58:10","slug":"we-are-called-to-be-witnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2010\/04\/we-are-called-to-be-witnesses.html","title":{"rendered":"“We are called to be witnesses…”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"gomez.jpg\"<\/a><\/span>“When we reread the New Testament narratives about the first Easter, we notice a
\ncommon theme. Everyone who comes in contact with the risen Lord comes away from
\nthat encounter with the urgent desire to run and tell others what they have witnessed.
\n<\/div>\n

\nSt. Mary Magdalene, upon encountering the risen Lord outside the empty tomb, ran to
\ntell the Apostles, “I have seen the Lord!”  The words spoken to Mary Magdalene and the
\nwomen at that empty tomb are now spoken to us: “Go quickly and tell … that he has risen from the dead.”<\/p>\n

We are called to testify to the power of the resurrection in our lives. The resurrection is
\nalways the essential “content” of Christian preaching. “If Christ has not been raised then
\nour preaching is in vain,” St. Paul said.<\/p>\n

My brothers and sisters, the beautiful work of proclaiming Jesus Christ and the
\nnew life of the resurrection now lies before us. We are called to be witnesses of his resurrection to a new generation.<\/p>\n

The people of our day long to know what we know–the love of God, the love that leads
\nto life and life abundant, the love that is stronger than death. They long to meet the One
\nwho can give them the living water they thirst for. But how can they meet him, how can
\nthey find him, unless we show them the way? ”<\/p>\n

— Archbishop Jose Gomez, “You Will Be My Witnesses,”<\/a>
Pastoral letter, February 15, 2010.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“When we reread the New Testament narratives about the first Easter, we notice a common theme. Everyone who comes in contact with the risen Lord comes away from that encounter with the urgent desire to run and tell others what they have witnessed. St. Mary Magdalene, upon encountering the risen Lord outside the empty tomb,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bishops"],"yoast_head":"\n"We are called to be witnesses..." - The Deacon's Bench<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2010\/04\/we-are-called-to-be-witnesses.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\""We are called to be witnesses..." - The Deacon's Bench\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"“When we reread the New Testament narratives about the first Easter, we notice a common theme. 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