Readings: Acts 4:32-37, Ps. 93:1-2, 5, John 3:7-15
“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.” (Acts 4:32)
As the Acts of the Apostles relate, the group gathered around the Apostles after Jesus’s resurrection were not called Christians at first but were referred to as “believers.” This word is quite instructive. To believe in something is to be convinced deeply about that thing. Unfortunately, today, there are not many believers among so-called Christians. We profess the faith only with our lips but fall short in practice. We have become a caricature of our ancestors in the faith. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, we “must be born again.” This entails dying to our old selves (selfishness, greed, bitterness, negative competition, hatred, gossiping and everything that brings division among Christians). Having summed up today’s readings, let us now examine some lessons in detail:
1. Don’t Be Possessed By Your Possessions: The secret to practising what these early believers did is refusing to be possessed by what you own. Becoming rich is not a sin, but being possessed by one’s wealth is a sin. Once upon a time, a rich young man asked Jesus about the secret of inheriting eternal life. Out of love for him, Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, after which he could return to follow Jesus. The young man walked away sorrowfully. The believers in today’s first reading did exactly what Jesus asked that young man to do. They did this because their possessions did not possess them. The Gospel of Prosperity has turned many Christians today into idol worshippers. God has become nothing more than a money-spinning machine. It is time for us to repent.
2. There Was No Needy Person Among Them: When God created the world, He provided more than enough for everyone. Today, ninety-nine per cent of the world’s riches are controlled by just one per cent of the world’s population. In other words, while many die every minute from hunger and starvation, a few individuals live in luxury. (Luxury is a polished way of describing wastefulness). There is a saying, “When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.” The believers understood this saying and achieved a family united in one heart and soul. Don’t be afraid to share what you have; the more you give, the more it increases. This is how Jesus fed over five thousand people with just five loaves and two fish. If there are needy persons among us, we have failed collectively. Let us not forget that our true wealth lies in the love and care we show others, not our material possessions. So, let us be generous, not just with our words, but with our actions.
3. Christianity is About Imitating Christ: During the Solemnity of the Annunciation (yesterday), we reflected that God wants to do great things in our world but needs our cooperation. Christ needs our eyes to see the world, our hands to bless, and our feet to spread the Good News to the ends of the world. Being a Christian is about doing exactly what Christ would have done if He were still with us. What did Christ do? He sacrificed his life for us. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “As Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:15). Since I claim to be a Christian, am I ready to be lifted so that others will be saved? Am I ready to die so that others (not only my immediate family) will have a better life?
4. What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus explains that being “born again” is to be “born of the Spirit.” In other words, to be born again is to be attentive to your spirit rather than your flesh. St. Paul explains further when He says: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other.… Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. As I warned you before, I warn you that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such, there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (those who are born again) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:17-24). The believers in today’s first reading could live like Christ because they were born again.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, make me realise that my true security is kindness to others. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 4:32-37, Ps. 93:1-2, 5, John 3:7-15).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu