"The community of those who came to faith had a heart and soul and no one claimed private ownership of his property, but everything was held in common. " (Acts 4:32)
January 2011
This year 18 to 25 January in many parts of the world are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian unity, while others celebrated at Pentecost.
As we remember, Chiara Lubich was wont to comment on the biblical verse gradually chosen for the occasion.
This year the biblical phrase for the Week of Prayer is. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). For reflection and the life of Clare we propose a text written in 1994 commenting on the passage from the Acts 4.32.
" the company of those who came to faith were of one heart and one soul and no one claimed private ownership of his property, but everything was held in common "
This word has one of those literary squares (see also 2.42, 5.12 to 16), in which the author of Acts informs us in broad terms the first Christian community in Jerusalem. That there appears to be characterized by extraordinary freshness and dynamism of spiritual, prayer and witness, especially a large unit, note that Jesus wanted as an unmistakable sign of fertility and the source of his Church.
The Holy Spirit, which is given in Baptism to those who accept the word of Jesus, being a spirit of love and unity of all believers was a thing only with the Risen Christ and with each other beyond all differences of race, culture and social class.
"The community of those who came to faith were of one heart and one soul and no one claimed private ownership of his property, but everything was held in common."
But we see more detailed aspects of this unit.
The Holy Spirit was working among the first believers unity of hearts and minds, helping them to overcome those feelings that make it difficult, in the dynamics of fellowship.
The greatest obstacle to unity is in fact our individualism, it is attachment to our ideas, views and personal tastes. E 'with our selfishness that we build barriers with which we isolate ourselves and we exclude those who are different from us.
"The community of those who came to faith were of one heart and one soul and no one claimed private ownership of his property, but everything was held in common."
unit by the Holy Spirit, then, necessarily reflect on the lives of believers. The unity of mind and heart was embodied and manifested in a concrete solidarity through the sharing of their goods with their brothers and sisters who were in need. Precisely because it was authentic, not tolerate that in some communities they lived in abundance, while others lacked necessary.
"The community of those who came to faith were of one heart and one soul and no one claimed private ownership of his property, but everything was held in common."
How will we live then the Word of life this month? It emphasizes the communion and unity as recommended by Jesus and realize that he has given us his Spirit.
we'll do, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, to grow in this community at all levels. First, on a spiritual level, surpassing the seeds of division we carry within us. It would, for example, a contradiction to want to be united with Jesus and at the same time be divided between us behaving individualistically, walking on their own, judging and perhaps mutually exclusive. Therefore, we need a new conversion to God who wants us united.
This Word also will help us better understand the contradiction between Christian faith and selfish use of material goods. It will help us achieve genuine solidarity with those in need, even within the limits of our ability.
and then found in the month when we celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the Word moves us to pray and to strengthen our bonds of unity and love sharing with our brothers and sisters belonging to various churches, with whom we share one faith and one spirit of Christ, received in Baptism.
Chiara Lubich
Word of Life, January 1994, published in the New Town , 1993/24, p34-35.
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