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43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 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
While some might be perplexed by the notion of this moment in the history of the church, I for one, have always had hope in these few verses. Luke the physician, giving an account of the actions of the early church, in just a couple of lines paints a picture of what I would consider heaven on earth.
Those who had come to believe in the miracle of resurrection, who understood the gift of the Holy Spirit, who have seen their needs met by the Lord, they came together and day-by-day offered the support each on needed. They spent their time in worship and fellowship. I know that some have looked at these verse and scoffed thinking of some hippie commune of old, and I’m sure there have been plenty who have tried to recreate a system like this, and most likely have failed.
On this world communion Sunday, however, I hope I might share some of the hope I see in these words. The words about the work of our Savior for the people of this world. These words are very eucharistic. Luke is telling us, that the table of our Lord, that experienced by the disciples at the last supper, is not extended to the homes and to the places where the people gather in the name of the Lord. People are doing exactly what Jesus asked of them, to break bread and remember. In their remembrance of Christ, they see the people who Christ saw, the poor, the outcast, the sick, and lame. They offered what they had as a blessing to those who were without. They didn’t rely on the government to fix the problems they saw around them, the church believed in helping and doing good. Those who were able, continued to work in their professions, continued to provide for their families, they chose to help others out of their abundance, but also worked together so that needs were met in their communities.
This vision Acts gives us of the church is less about a society trying to tuck away from the world, and more about a group of people who really see how bad the world is, and choose to try and make it better for all. I have a great hope in these verse and for the church, because when the church chooses to do what is right and good in the actions and love of Christ, we see this same thing happening. We see a church making a difference to those who are in their community, and we get that glimpse of the heavenly kingdom even now.
I know we are that church, and I pray we continue in that focus to reach deep and wide in the love of Christ.
Grace & Peace,
Sam