Behave as Believers

Homily for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter

The first reading for this morning’s Mass is the same reading we heard on Sunday. Because we will read from the Acts of the Apostles throughout the Easter Season, both on Sunday and on the weekdays, there is bound to be some crossover.

The Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, has several different purposes. First, it sets out to illustrate the community life of the early Christians. It also records the witness and preaching of the apostles. Finally, it acts as a record of the growth of the Christian community.

The first purpose is obviously at work in today’s passage. In order to understand the actions of these early Christians, we might have to ask ourselves this question. What specific, observable behaviors are the result of our faith in the resurrection of Jesus? It cannot be enough to simply SAY that we believe. Faith must lead us to action. This is not to say that deeds are more important than faith. As St. James explains it, faith without deeds is dead.

Today we hear that the early Christians, including the disciple named Barnabas, chose to hold all their goods in common. There can be no doubt that this behavior is specific and observable. Their belief in the Resurrection led them to act in this fashion.

This is not to say that this is the only way that one can demonstrate their faith in the Resurrection. As Jesus says to Nicodemus, “the wind blows where it will.” In other words, the Holy Spirit can inspire us in many ways to live out our faith in the Resurrection. The Holy Spirit draws each disciple in a unique way. The Spirit takes into account the disciple’s personality and circumstances, where they are in their faith journey, their talents and skills – as well as the disciple’s trust in the Spirit.

Jesus has shared his life with us and continues to share it in every Eucharist. Our response to his generous gift must be our own gift of self to others.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator