Witnessing Christ to the World

The first reading of the Office of Readings for Wednesday of the Easter Octave came from the first epistle of St. Peter, chapter 2, verses 11-25.  It has had me thinking over the past few days about our life of witness, especially in times such as these - in the context of the corona virus as well as so many other challenges presented to our life of witness in this age and in these United States.

The first thing that made me stop and give serious thought as I knelt before the Blessed Sacrament was the first phrase: "Beloved, you are strangers and in exile."  Think about that.  We are strangers and in exile.  That isn't the way we generally think of ourselves.

In my experience, these past 50 years, it seemed we think of the USA as a Christian country, or, at least a country that was once founded on Christian principles.   That doesn't really sound like "strangers in exile", does it?  
The great difficulty is when we start with the idea that we live in a Christian country, or even a country that once was, we have expectations about how society ought to be.  When we discover that it isn't what we believe it ought to be our response becomes something other than the response of strangers in exile.  We tend to respond not as strangers in exile but as those who have been betrayed; we respond with anger, indignation, self righteousness.
 As I see what is posted on social media, listen to people around me, I wonder what our Lord would say if we could hear Him speak.  I sometimes wonder if He wouldn't say to us something along the lines of what he said to Simon Peter in the Garden: "sheath your sword.  Those who live by the sword will die by the sword."

So, how do we give witness of our faith to the world?  How do we act in concord with what we claim to be: one with the Body of Christ?

I don't pretend to have answers here, though I have spent a fair bit of time in prayer and consideration of this issue.  I'm hoping to start a conversation amongst the faithful, especially those who are engaged in a particular, intentional, public witness to society - i.e. those involved in pro-life work, those advocating for the freedom of religion, etc.  We have had many opportunities to engage the world over these past fifty years in particular.  Through conversation and much prayer maybe we can come to an understanding of how we can confront the world as credible witnesses of Christ.
Your well-considered comments are most appreciated.