On Ascension Sunday, Jesus rises beyond the clouds and leaves a single, urgent commission: “You will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That sounds heroic when read in church, but it feels far less glamorous when it asks me to speak up at work, refuse a cruel joke, or offer kindness while I’m racing through errands. Witnessing, Jesus implies, will regularly tug us outside the safe borders of comfort.
The first witnesses understood that tension. Moments after the Ascension, they’re still staring at the sky, uncertain, when two angels prod them, asking, “Why are you standing here?” (Acts 1:11). They don’t have polished answers or a strategic plan, but they have been with Jesus—and that is enough to start walking. Christian witness is not about mastering every argument; it is about showing up with faith, even when the ground underfoot feels shaky.
Luke (24:49) tells us that before departing, Jesus blessed the disciples and promised they would be “clothed with power from on high.” He knows obstacles await—hostile ears, skeptical hearts, and personal fatigue—yet He still sends, assuring them that God’s Spirit will act through ordinary people who dare to trust.
For us, witnessing rarely involves stadiums or microphones. Instead, it might look like:
- Quietly declining gossip or stepping in to stop an unkind remark.
- Making the Sign of the Cross before a meal in a crowded restaurant.
- Praying aloud with an anxious friend—in the hallway, on the phone, or at a coffee shop.
- Wearing a small crucifix or saint medal at work and graciously answering questions when someone notices.
- Volunteering at a food pantry on a Saturday morning instead of sleeping in.
- Writing a sincere note of encouragement to a coworker who’s struggling rather than assuming that someone else will.
- Posting a scripture verse or an act-of-kindness invitation on social media amid the usual arguments.
These simple, sometimes awkward, acts whisper Christ’s love into daily life. The world notices ordinary people who dare small, inconvenient acts of faith. That is witness, and that is our call.
