Our Lord looked for men who would have at least the courage of their convictions as did Nicodemus, but he found few. How disappointed he must have been to hear some, out of cowardice, bring up specious arguments against Him from scripture itself. How saddened He must have been to see others intimidated by the Pharisees. Jeremiah, in the first reading, was a man of tremendous courage, and though he knew he was like a lamb being led to the slaughter, he stuck to his convictions.

Like Nicodemus and even more like Jeremiah, we must have the courage of our convictions. We must be witnesses for Christ before others. Our religion is not fulfilled only by prayer and worship, for the Church is, as the Vatican Council expressed it, "the Church in the Modern World." It is especially your office as lay people to bring Christ to modern men and women. The Decree on the Laity says that you do this by "the very testimony of your Christian life and good works done in a supernatural spirit," but it points out also that "a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers or to believers with a view to instructing and strengthening them towards a more fervent life."

Neither fear for our reputation nor for our security is an excuse for failing to proclaim Christ.