Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
Today this reading from Acts reveals something noteworthy about the Church- it was written down either as an example to follow, or because it was no longer happening in every church by the time the scripture was written down. Indeed, how many Church communities in our time are ‘of one heart and mind’ or hold ‘everything in common’? I’m having trouble thinking of any, although religious brothers and sisters come close. So this is unique. What is unique about our parish community? If we were writing about how things are here, to believers in another place or time (perhaps our sister parish), what would you say? What’s special about IC or the parish groups you are a part of or your small group?
The key here is, what do we really need? How much is enough? When we have excess or more than enough, with joyful hearts we give it to those in need. This is what Barnabas models for us. He had excess, and his Christian brothers and sisters were in need. In today’s situation, we have to wrestle with this question: how much is enough? In uncertain times, it’s hard to know the difference between greed and need. We can easily deceive ourselves; our conscience may not be trustworthy. Are we hoarding or are we wisely planning for an unknown future? The way we can tell is, are we acting out of fear, or acting out of love? Again, it is possible to deceive ourselves; we feel we’re acting in love to provide our family with enough, but we may actually be afraid of what happens if we run out.
So we bring all of this before the Lord in prayer. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Love, and this perfect love drives out fear. This is the key to the way the early church worked, and how we can live in this Easter Season. In light of the resurrection, even death has no power over us. Despair and suffering are pathways we walk on the way to new life, love, and peace. In the eyes of Love, we see what we need, and we also see what our neighbors need. We are free to give to meet our neighbor’s needs, even in these uncertain times. Loving God, help us to see first with eyes of Love, and guide us with that vision to give generously to meet the needs of those around us. Amen.
-Chris Nieport