Early Believers

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and sign were being done by the apostles.  All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.  Day by day they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.  And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 2: 43-47

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.  With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.  There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement").  He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet.

Acts 4: 32-37

On Monday I was listening to a podcast in which the speaker was discussing patterns, the ways in which they shape us and how we achieve change. He suggested if we want change we should look at our patterns and see where we need to break and/or develop new habits.  He inspired his audience by connecting a change in pattern to creativity; to possibility; to newness.  This week in reading the account of the Acts community whose common life was shaped by 'apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking bread (Eucharist) and prayer' I was reminded of Monday's podcast.  What are our patterns as Christians?  How is our common life shaped?  Where is the engagement with hospitality, teaching, sacrament, and prayer in our life and how does that form us?  As we engage with these practices are we also experiencing an awareness of the beauty and mystery and presence of God in our midst?  Are we being prompted by God's spirit towards transformation as a community?

 In a conversation just this morning I was sharing with a parishioner some of the ways we are experiencing God in Children's Ministry as we engage the Word; as invite God to speak to us in prayer; as we receive communion or a blessing.  As we spoke, there was a shared sense of beauty, grace, mystery and transcendence: of awe and wonder.  It was encouraging to share our reflections and to ponder together the work of God in our midst.  It is my prayer that our rhythms in worship on Sunday and throughout the week will create a humbling awareness of God's presence and his wondrous works amongst us which infuse the daily with meaning and invite the transformation of individuals and communities.

The first word of our reading from Acts 2, is 'awe' - astonishment came upon everyone because of the sign and wonders being done by the apostles.  These signs and wonders included radical economic redistribution, generosity and hospitality.  This kind of re-ordering is noteworthy because it runs against our individualistic society that values autonomy over community and self-actualization over service.  It is hard, perhaps almost impossible to resist these strongly held cultural values and the practices that reinforce the values.  All too easily we find ourselves on walking on a well worn path paved with expectations, incentives and rewards.  How do we open ourselves up to the possibility of newness in the midst of these realities? I think being formed in the resurrection narrative is a wonderful place to begin - in life from death, the invisible made visible, in love that has no bounds, in freedom from death and sin, we begin to see God, ourselves, this world in a new way - the way God intends it to be.

For me Jesuits, Benedictine Sisters and New Monastic Communities embody the ancient practices of prayer, reading of scripture, community, sacraments and resurrection life in a remarkable way. Through the Holy Spirit and their devotion to Christ they remake part of the world, they rebuild lives and invite participation in God's work of transformation.  Fr. Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit Priest in Los Angeles and is the founder of Homeboy Industries which assists high-risk youth, former gang members and the recently incarcerated with a variety of free programs including education classes, work-readiness training, and employment services. The most distinctive feature of Homeboy Industries is its social enterprises/small businesses, which gives hard-to-place individuals an opportunity for employment in transitional jobs in a safe, supportive environment. Among the businesses are the Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Café & Catering, Homeboy/Girl Merchandise, Homeboy Farmers Markets, The Homeboy Diner at City Hall, Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery, Homeboy Grocery and the soon-to-open Homeboy Cafe & Bakery in the American Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport."  This is a beautiful sign of God's Kingdom here on earth.

But, signs and wonders of God's Kingdom are in our midst too. I feel blessed to be able to glimpse where God is at work: in a group of people getting together to build a garden, in people sharing with others out of scarcity or abundance, extending friendship and receiving another, opening homes to youth, listening to the Word of God and to Children, in friendships that can hold pain.  When we see lives and communities not following the patterns of this world, but being renewed and experiencing transformation through the gospel we are compelled by God's spirit. Where/when have you glimpsed a community transformed by the gospel?  Where have you seen God's kingdom amongst us?

In our text today perhaps what strikes me most is that this Acts community was not the result of strategic planning and well developed and tested formulas.  When the Spirit of God descends upon communities in this way, it is a gift, a grace.  "These first Christians experienced the kingdom of God in their midst - in the revolution of all things and the revaluation of all values.  They experienced the complete changing of all conditions and all possibilities, the switching of all relationships in business, state, society and elsewhere.  A completely different scale of values took effect, quite different from all other values that had existed so far.  God became the highest value; he reigned and revealed himself.  This church community was nothing more than the re-newed birth of Christ, a renewed incarnation of the eternal word." (Eberhard Arnold)

Our task isn't to try and re-create the early church, our task is to love Christ, to love one another, to devote ourselves to teaching, to prayer, and to a sacramental life.

Now! What does this have to do with children?  Well, perhaps more than we first think.  It is powerful  to experience the re-ordering of the world, a community that is marked by love, transformation of individuals and communities through the gospel, the paradoxical nature of Christ. It reveals what is true and lasting and beautiful - it helps a child to see the world through a different lens and to join in the the work of God, it creates a longing, it develops an ability to discern wisely.  But children are not just passive observers they are a part of the community and as you listen to them you might find where the Holy Spirit is working and leading. Earlier in the book of Acts, Luke quotes the prophet Joel: "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."

In just two weeks we will celebrate Pentecost as a church.  Kids' Word and the Youth are going to prepare a coffee hour celebration.  Begin speaking about the coming of the Holy Spirit; let the wonder of Pentecost and the anticipation of this celebration begin!