“THEY WERE OF ONE HEART AND SOUL” (Acts 4:32)

⏰Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter (05 April 2016)

?Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1abc, 1c-2, 5 (R.v.1a); John 3:7b-15

✍Rev. Fr. JohnBosco Chimaobi Ezeonwumelu (Issele-Uku Diocese)

?”THEY WERE OF ONE HEART AND SOUL” (Acts 4:32)

The Catholic Catechism defines Baptism as a Sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us Christians, children of God and members of the Church. This Sacrament compels us to come out of our old selves and imposes on us the responsibility to live, no longer for ourselves alone, but for Christ and others. That is an implication of what Jesus says to Nicodemus that anyone born of the spirit is open to the direction of the spirit (cf. John 3:8).?

As Christians, the spirit directs us to live as Jesus lived and would want us to live. One of such ways is to see that the needs of all in the community are resolved and taken care of. In doing so, we shall be helping Christ to continue his work on earth. This is exactly what the early Christians were exactly doing as the First Reading tells us. They lived a common life in which nobody lacked anything since the need of one is shared by all.?‍❤️‍?

Is that still the case with our different Christian communities today? Do we reach out to those people in our communities who are sick in need of visitation and prayer, or thirst in need of water, or homeless in need of shelter, or hungry in need of food, or in prison in need of a visit, or poor in need of charity??

The Year of Mercy and the liturgy of today reminds us that such is the life Jesus charges us to embrace as his followers. The church and the society also help us by creating for us different opportunities to help us live as effective Christians. Do not stand in the dark.?➖?

As you join in finding solutions to the difficulties of others in our communities, may the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross continue to work to alleviate our own sufferings and, in the end, dispose us to gain eternal life in Christ. Amen.?

I wish you a Spirit-led day. It is well with you.?