Acts 11:19-25; John 10:22-30
“It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians”: Are you a Christian in Non-Christians’ Estimation?
Today’s first reading speaks to the possible tragedy of a missionary and the conception of mission – when missionaries are seen as those sent to others and mission is considered as something done for others and not for oneself. Mission has a double transformative power – the transformation of the missionary and those who encounter the missionary or the recipients of missionaries. The statement that best describes this reality, from our first reading today, is – “it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26).
What is super-interesting about this statement, “it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26) is the fact that non-Christians gave the disciples/followers of Christ that name; their lives was such a carbon-copy of Jesus’ life that people could identify them with the name and life of their master and Lord, the Christ.
The quintessential part of today’s reading is the power of a true missionary to become another Christ in the views of those he/she works for and with. It follows that “mission” is both a self-witnessing to Christ as well as an occasion for the transformation of others into copies of Jesus Christ – Christians. This point is also made in today’s gospel, within the context of the Jewish feast of Dedication.
The Feast of Dedication celebrates the overthrow of Gentiles and the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem, thereby enthroning the Jewish people as the only people of God. But today, the Gentiles who supposedly desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem, which needed rededication, are now sons and daughters of God, Christians. In other words, mission is that enterprise which reveals the identity of Christ, through the daily lives of missionaries. To this end, today’s gospel emphasizes “works,” that is, a good Christian life, as testimony to non-Christians, that Jesus is Lord and Messiah: “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.” Jesus says this in response to the Jews who asked him to reveal his identity, he points to his works as measurement or revealer of his identity.
So, building on last Sunday’s readings, where we are called to fidelity, that is, living exactly as Christ prescribed to us, we move to Christ our model of missionary life, yesterday (Monday), and today (Tuesday) we see that “fidelity” to Christ the “model” of missionary life, we are now seeing the consequence of fidelity – a conferment of a new name and identity, Christian.
Just imagine what kind of a world we will be living in, were all who call themselves Christians be living like Christ? Imagine the paradise Nigerians will be living in with all the church buildings we have, in the name of Christianity, but we can’t even enjoy electrical and petroleum supplies. Imagine the absence of pornograpghy, abortion and gay unions in Europe and North America. Imagine all the thieves stealing from the poor and hiding everything in fiscal paradises!
Indeed, a better kind of world is possible, the world of authentic Christian living, if you and I decide to be true Christians!
Assignment for Today:
Can you share with someone, a friend, colleague or family member, one area of his/her life which is like Christ’s as encouragement to keep it up?