In today’s first reading from Acts 4, we get a glimpse of the first Christian community. We’ll talk more about that in a sec. In the Gospel reading from John 3, we see part of the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Nicodemus was a teacher of Israel, and yet he did not understand what Jesus was telling him about being born from above. Here we are 2000 years later, and still having a hard time with Jesus’ words. If you sometimes have a hard time getting what Jesus said, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger! I”m right there with you!
When we read about that first Christian community today in Acts 4, it may be easy to glamorize or idealize it. Today’s opening line says, “The community of believers was of one heart and mind.” Wow! You mean everyone believed everything and there was no dissention? Well, it would seem that way. But, as we will read in the coming days and weeks, that would not last for long. After all, people are people. And people have generally had a hard time getting along with other people. And so it is even today.
There are differences even among the community of believers. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that we still can’t be of “one heart and mind.” Because when it comes right down to it, that heart must be the heart of Jesus, and that mind must be the mind of Christ. Now don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying that doctrine isn’t important. But I am saying that, in the end, the heart and mind of Christ are all about love. And if we let our differences take that away, then it is time to rethink things.
Father, we ask that you help us to be more like those first believers; of one heart and mind. Help us all to be united in Christ in spite of any differences. Amen.
0 comments