Being a witness is very difficult indeed. The burden of proof is always not on the subject or object of the witnessing but on the witness himself. Most of the time witnesses have to face the inevitable experience of incredulity in the part of the public eye simply because they carry within themselves the power to convince or to deceive. This power are sometimes broken by the devil’s advocate specifically on the specific aspect of credibility. Most often than not, even when the witnesses are telling the truth, they fall into prey of some malicious adversary, destroying their claim on the basis of their credibility, past mistakes, motive or even the current intention they have for witnessing. It is not only their word that is at stake, even their life, their homes, their safety, their family, their security, and unfortunately their dignity. Letting yourself become a witness is like putting yourself on the spotlight at the center of the stage with the risk of being thrown at with tomatoes any moment of the day. No one wanted to be witnesses if their entire existence are put into the jeopardy that’s why most of the times witnesses are hard to convince to testify, not only on courts but all of the aspects of our human life: On a marital infidelity, on a domestic dispute, on a local burglary or even on a nationwide scandal and controversy.

But not all witnesses are cowards. There are some people who are cut above the rest. These people are willing to risk even their very lives just to tell the truth which their own eyes has brought them. But no matter how courageous or brave a person is, it will still boil down on the fact that the burden of proof is on the person witnessing an event.

People are by nature fond of heroes. They always wanted to see someone who go against the flow, who stood their ground and oppose the current prevailing standards just to proclaim truth. These heroes whether they like it or not, whether they intended it or not or whether they deliberately do it or not are still heroes in the eyes of many. But of course it remains to be seen. Not all people who claim that they are heroes are heroes indeed much like, not all witnesses who proclaim the truth are really telling the truth. Like in the human court or any court of law for the matter, witnesses have to be scrutinized, cross examined and background checked just to prove if he or she is telling the truth.

And with this comes the different types of witnesses:

Shooting Star Witnesses are witnesses who at the very start of their testimony are deemed incredible and not worthy of belief. These kind of witnesses does not have only credibility issues but also has questionable motives and fantastic stories to tell. Their testimonies often breeds curiosity, demanding more patches to cover many loopholes on their accounts. Their backgrounds are undeniably tainted and motives exaggerated. Likened to a falling star or shooting star, their brief stint on the sky is already destined to go on a downward direction. Now you see them, now you don’t. Only to find out the next day that they have retracted their testimonies and camped out on the other fence just to invert their first accounts. Reason? Probably money, security, blackmailed or simply to cause confusion.

Nova Witnesses are those witnesses who are probably telling the truth but only wanted fame and money, prestige and revenge and not particularly keen on pursuing truth itself. They may have been telling the truth but the quality of truth is not that significant, relevant or important in the case being tried. They put more importance in themselves than on the subject and object of truth which they are trying to prove. They exaggerate their roles, always drawing attention to themselves and putting flowers on their words, sugarcoating every sentences just to make their testimony awesome, fantastic and amazing. Like the Novas on the sky., they shine brightly but not for long. Their star quality as a witness fades so fast just as they briefly arise from their oblivion. When you wake up one morning, they are no more to be heard. Easily forgotten just as their testimonies were. Their shine doest last that long so as their testimonies…

The third kind of witnesses are the Supernova Witnesses. They come to testify in courts or on public assemblies harboring lies or twisting the truth with superb and detailed accounts, often with convincing manners, actuations and facial expression. They are inborn actors, playing a role and distorting truths just to gain control of the public sympathy, public opinion or the judges’s favor. Their claim is irrefutable often accompanied with collaborative proofs and circumstantial evidences. They are the cause of every innocent man’s downfall just because their resources, machinery and acting prowess dashed with luck and public stupidity often favors them in the most ironic of all circumstances. But like a supernova, no matter how bright and shining they become, no matter how they shape the minds of the people and no matter how they outweigh the weighing scale in their direction, they will still self destruct, detonate or simply saying implode inside-out because from the very start of their testimony, lies and deceit always accompany them. Their explosion is inevitable simply because no lies no matter how they hide their lies, truth shall always prevail.

The last type of witness are the Star Witnesses. They are the ones whom from the very start carry the last bits of information needed to form the puzzle. They are the missing link of the truths we all wanted to know. They are often the sole story teller of stories untold and unknown, often becoming harbingers of revelations, messengers of hope and in some way channel of justice. They tell the story as it is without embellishments, without exaggeration and without delusions and hallucinations. They are superstars in their own rights because just like the star that represents them, they shine brightly because what they hold is the truth which illuminates all darkness of doubts, fear, confusion and anxiety. They often stay at the sky, bringing light on a Dark Night and guiding our direction, bringing us hope and inspiring courage among us. They put their lives at risk even unto death just because what they saw, what they hear and what they felt is actually what happened, what is authentic and what is real and true.

These are the real heroes who never for once gave a thought of their own welfare. They once made a mistake in their lives (who among us did not?) but no matter how people would label them. persecute them or put words on their mouth.. they remain consistent, firm and truthful to what they witnessed.

On the third day of Jesus death, Mary Magdalen and a bunch of holy women came to the tomb, bringing aromatic spices to anoint the body of our savior. But at the break of dawn, lo and behold, Mary Magdalene cried and shed a tear for her Lord’s body was missing. But a stranger comforted him and told him that he had risen. Recognizing the stranger, she exclaimed; Rabboni! And she spread the word that the Lord had risen. When the news came to the disciples, they were thankful until a doubting thomas ruined the moment. Until the Lord came again in their midst beyond the closed and lock doors and told the doubter, touch my side, put your fingers on my palm.. only then did he said: My Lord and My God.

The last one to see the Risen Lord was the murderer, Paul of Tarsus. On his way, he saw in all Glory the Lord our Savior, blinding him nearly for days. But he stood his ground on what he saw, becoming one of the greatest apostles of Jesus that have ever lived, responsible for converting as many gentiles as he can throughout the mediterranean and the mid east.

These people, like most of the witnesses, have been ridiculed, rejected and persecuted. Like most of us, they too have unflattering past lives. Matthew was a Tax Collector, Peter was a coward, Mary of Magdala was a prostitute, Martha was a jealous sibling, James was over ambitious, and Paul formerly Saul was a Jewish Official aimed in squashing the Christians. All of them have past lives like us that if put into today’s standards, they can can be considered as a bunch of wackos and criminals. Very unflattering company indeed for a Son of God and Lord of Lords isn’t it?

Yet what is the difference of their testimony from all other witnesses that have testified on every scandals and controversies, crimes and trials that we read on news and heard and saw on TV, that even after 2000 years, their testimonies are read and repeated over and over again around the world for people to hear?

Simply, they did not remain as witnesses for a certain event. They remained as witnesses every day of their life, every aspect of their being and every moment of their existence. They retained being witnesses to the Gospel of truth, to the Lord’s undying Love and to the promise of Resurrection. Their testimonies as witnesses of the Lord’s Resurrection was so strong that they have paid it even with their own blood which became the seed of faith, your faith and mine. For their testimonies are not void and empty but actually producing and multiplying every soul that hears it.

So this Easter Season, let us remain as active witnesses of the Lord’s resurrection. Our Faith is useless and pointless without looking at eternity as our goal.

Let us be the Lord’s Star Witnesses everyday of our life, every aspect of our humanness and every moment that we live until we share his ultimate Glory forever and ever.

Rejoice, for the Lord is truly Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!