Returning To Our Roots
(Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93; Jn 3:7-15)
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The Word Among Us provided a homily for today that I adapted as follows:
Isn’t it striking how the first Christians took care of one another? Moved by their love for the Lord and for each other and having been “born from above” at Pentecost when they received the Holy Spirit, the wealthier members of their community – people like Barnabas – freely shared their resources with those who were less fortunate. They considered their bounty as a blessing from God and saw it as something they should share with each other rather than hold onto for themselves (Acts 4:34-37).
Blessed Frederick Ozanam is a more contemporary example of someone who, like the early Christians, looked beyond himself to the needs of the people around him. When thousands died in a cholera epidemic in Paris in 1832, many more were left destitute. Ozanam, a young university student, was moved at the hopeless state of families who had lost the support of their bread winners. Then he was stung by another student’s remark: “In former times Christianity worked wonders, but what is it doing for humanity now” And you, who pride yourself on your Catholicity, what are you doing for the poor?”
In response, Ozanam gathered a few friends and began to do whatever he could to relieve the suffering he saw in the slums of the city. Eventually, a new organization, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, grew from Ozanam’s work and spread. Today, through this society, volunteers serve millions of disadvantaged people around the globe. They provide home visits, job training, housing assistance, food pantries and medicine for the elderly. They pray with people, care for their needs, and show the love of Christ in countless concrete ways. Some of our Oblate Associates in Edmonton are very involved in this society.
Most of us don’t live in as close-knit a community as the first Christians did, where everything was held in common. Nor would many of us be able, like Barnabas, to sell our property, donate it to our local parish, and still be able to care for ourselves and our families.
Still God asks us to bear witness to his Son through acts of generosity and loving service that are in line with our circumstances. So, let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the needs around us. Sharing even a little of our resources, even a little of our time and attention, can make a big difference!
I attended a third anniversary of sobriety of a recovering alcoholic and was struck by the close-knit community he was experiencing as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. He came with me on a 12 Step call to help another alcoholic, and I was impressed not only by the way he reached out to this desperate person, but also how he picked him up from the hospital the next day, put him up in his own home, and put him through the program for the next two days. I felt like I was witnessing that early Christian community.
Another time I felt that I was returning to our Christian roots as described in today’s reading from Acts is when I joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and arrived at the novitiate in Arnprior, Ontario. I handed in the keys to my beloved Toyota Corolla and kissed it goodbye, as well as my bank account. From now on, everything I had owned would be held in common with my new community of Oblate brothers – a decision I have never regretted.
The Eucharist is a family meal, something we all share in common, and a celebration in which we are all equal, no one better than anyone else, pauper or prince. We are then mandated to go out like the early Christians to do what we can to make sure that no one is in need.
Lord, show us how we can share the blessings you have given us, so we can return to our roots and be more and more like our ancestors in the faith.
I also did same thing in helping the needy and people who are disabled couple years ago in a group home and nursing home. I used to work and volunteer with people who are disabled and in need before my health problem. I cook, help people get up from the chair and bed at home and assist them to the washrooms. I talked to people who have difficult emotional problems and tried to open their minds with joy and hope. I also took courses in the Catholic Social Service while working in this department. We are the kind of people that God wants us to be and he hopes other people can do the same. These are the blessings given by God and returning to our roots. Praise to the Lord. Thanks be to God.
This is how Jesus helps people and treats people during his time on earth before he was crucified. He wants his disciples and apostles to do the same. I had the feeling that the readings will be in the Gospel of John and we still be looking at the Acts of Apostles. I do not have a book and App on the daily masses . It just came to my mind this morning . This is before attending any masses. Thanks Bishop Lavoie , Gracias !