Courage to Speak: A Gift from the Resurrection

When Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit after his Resurrection, he promised more than just the gift of consolation.  On the contrary, Jesus promised his disciples the gift of courage through the Holy Spirit.  Before the Resurrection, the disciples were hidden, anxious, and prone to betrayal.  Peter denied Jesus, Thomas doubted, and the others scattered into places of hiding.  Fear silenced them before the authorities and oppressors. However, the Resurrection transformed them as the Risen Christ breathed new life upon them and ignited a bold passion to give witness to the Kingdom. Clearly, the outstanding and visible sign of the Resurrection is not merely the empty tomb or angelic witnesses but also the visible witness of courage among the disciples, who began to speak the truth without fear and were willing to face persecution in the face of injustice.

This courage is prophetic of the Resurrection. This courage confronts unjust systems, defends the vulnerable and poor, and publicly names what is wrong, even when doing so requires great sacrifice. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the assurance, ‘do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say’ (Luke 12: 11-12), grounds Christian witness not in human boldness but in Divine authority. The Holy Spirit gives us the words that are most required at the right time, piercing, and yet compassionate.  Truly, this courage to speak is authentic when it is rooted in a humble obedience to Christ’s self-giving love (the Pascal Mystery) rather than in a desire solely to acclaim.  Boldness is not ours to speak!  On the contrary, the courage to speak is the very power of the Resurrection itself, acclaimed in the world today!

In these Easter days, Christians are summoned to allow the Resurrection power of Jesus to shape their Christian witness, recognizing that to speak boldly for justice requires discernment, prayer, and solidarity with those who suffer. It requires risk: loss of reputation, rejection, and even persecution. Yet the early Church shows us that speaking the truth brings about the purposes for which the gift of the Resurrection is given, a communion with God the Father, healing and forgiveness, unity amongst us, and the enduring gift of peace.

The Risen Lord inspires us with the courage to speak, by the Holy Spirit, which gives witness to the truth and fosters the gift of peace.

By Charles Rensburg, OMI

Published on the OMI World website