Homily For Tuesday Second Week of Easter, 9th April, 2024

Readings: Acts.4:32-37; Ps.92; John 3:7-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

EMBRACING THE FRATERNAL LIFE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS

 

One of the major problems in our world today is individualism, this no doubt is the cause of disunity, greediness and corruption that is really destroying humanity. To overcome this ugly attitude we need to learn from the early Christian community as recorded in our first reading, which gives us an account of how the company of believers were of one heart and soul deeply united with each other. They bear witness to the central element of their faith, that is, loving God with all their hearts and with all their soul and loving their neighbours as themselves. Thereby bearing witness to the teachings of Jesus. They sold their belongings brought the proceeds together and distributed them to each according to their need.

 

This great gesture demonstrates what fraternal love really means. No one claimed anything as belonging to him/herself; everything was held in common. This shows us the social life of the early Church. But the question is, do we still have such sharing communities in our Church today? Perhaps we may find such communal sharing in some different communities of religious life with vows of poverty and total sharing of resources coupled with a life of material simplicity.  Also, there may be other groups of lay people and some families who try to implement this Christian vision and value.

 

Dear friends, how many families are practising this great Christian fraternal living? How many societies in our churches are willing to maintain this tradition? This should be encouraged especially at this moment when the world is passing through difficult times, and we are fast losing our great Christian values of communal and fraternal living. There is a need for us to also extend it to societies where fraternal Communion and charity have been taken over by individualism, selfishness, corruption and greed. How I wish humanity would learn how to live in fraternal charity like the early Christians, then we will see that the world resources will be enough for everyone. Therefore, let us unite again as one family sharing and taking care of each other.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the attitudes and virtues of the early Church, give us the grace to imitate them as we cultivate the attitude of sharing our material blessings with those in genuine need in our community, especially in this difficult moment in our societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace-filled day.