The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess the changes in our actions and attitude that we need to implement to bring fullness of life to all people.
Respond to the "ruah"
In the reading from the Acts Of the Apostles, the believers share their possessions.
* [4:32–37] This is the second summary characterizing the Jerusalem community (see note on Acts 2:42–47). It emphasizes the system of the distribution of goods and introduces Barnabas, who appears later in Acts as the friend and companion of Paul, and who, as noted here (Acts 4:37), endeared himself to the community by a donation of money through the sale of property. This sharing of material possessions continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus (Lk 8:3) and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke’s gospel (Lk 12:33; 16:9, 11, 13).1
Psalm 93 praises the Majesty of God’s Rule.
* [93:1] The LORD is king: lit., “the LORD reigns.” This Psalm, and Ps 47; 96–99, are sometimes called enthronement Psalms. They may have been used in a special liturgy during which God’s ascent to the throne was ritually reenacted. They have also been interpreted eschatologically, pointing to the coming of God as king at the end-time.2
In the Gospel of John, Jesus teaches Nicodemus about being born from above.
* [3:8] Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary. * [3:14] Lifted up: in Nm 21:9 Moses simply “mounted” a serpent upon a pole. John here substitutes a verb implying glorification. Jesus, exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, represents healing for all.3
Barbara Dilly comments that most Christians do not take the passage in Acts 4 for today literally. But we should all take it seriously. Despite our faithful intentions and generosity there are still too many needy persons among us on the planet and even in our own communities.
This great need is weighing us down. And then we read that “the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” There is a lot of heavy lifting that needs to be done to witness to the resurrection. Even if Christians everywhere give everything we have to the poor and stand on the corner preaching day and all night, we cannot do it. We are certainly humbled by our need for Christ to help us. I stand today with Nicodemus. What must I do? Jesus tells us we must be born of the spirit. It is not about what we do with our material things. It is about what happens to unify our hearts and minds when the spirit guides us. How will that unified Christian community of faith give us the power to witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in our times? I pray today that we will each find renewed purpose in our faith response through our Christian communities.4
Don Schwager quotes “He descended so that we might ascend,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Spiritual birth happens when human beings, being earthly, become heavenly. And this can only happen when they are made members of me. So that he may ascend who descended, since no one ascends who did not descend. Therefore everyone who needs to be changed and raised must meet together in a union with Christ so that the Christ who descended may ascend, considering his body (that is to say, his church)6 as nothing other than himself." (ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ON INFANT BAPTISM 1.60)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 4:32-37 comments that as Christians, we may differ in many ways, but we have what is most essential in common: we have been baptized into the one body of Christ. All we are and have is given to us so that we can bless one another. So how can we live out this call?
These believers found creative ways to build up the common good. How is God inviting you to be a little more generous with your brothers and sisters today? “Holy Spirit, show me one specific way to make myself more available to someone today.”6
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the literary style of Luke in reference to Barnabas. “Ruah” as spirit, breath, or wind is applied to the Spirit of God. Friar Jude reminds us that in John’s Gospel, Jesus' hour of glory is the Cross with His outpouring of Love.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, continues to emphasize the centrality of the Eucharist in a Christian life. ( In Romans 8:19–25 (as creation), 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, and 11:23–25 (as bread and wine), and in 12:12–13 (as people).) In each of these Scriptures, and in an ever-expanding sense, Paul expresses his full belief that there is a real transfer of human and spiritual identity from Christ to Creation, to the elements of bread and wine, and through them to human beings.
Thus Eucharist, like Resurrection, is not a unique event or strange anomaly. Eucharist is the Incarnation of Christ taken to its final shape and end—the very elements of the earth itself. It is all one huge continuum of Incarnation. It is indeed one sacred universe, all things turning around one thing (uni versus), the divine. [1]7
Our transformation as we embody our reality in the Body of Christ calls us to Love that addresses the needs of all Creation.
References
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