Monday, April 16, 2007

No Needy Person April 17

There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. Acts 4:34-35

The LORD is king, in splendor robed. Psalm 93:1

If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? John 3:12

Piety

Jesus, help us to recognize that you are King over all creation. We worship so many false gods. Cash. Beauty. Stock prices. The beautiful lawn and garden our neighbor cultivates. The cars parked in front of others’ homes. The diplomas earned by our co-workers. The salaries of CEOs. Help us to focus our piety, study and action where the early Church concentrated…on showing love for those who needed assistance. That way, we might be able to bring a little heaven back to earth. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/041707.shtml

It almost sounds like a dream. No needy person among them. How can that be?

This early Christian Church was rejected by society. They worshipped in hiding, even marking their graves with symbols that the Romans would not detect. Yet, there was no needy person among them…a miracle in itself – maybe more miraculous than feeding the 5,000 with a few barley loaves and some fish.

Our battered times would be lucky to have such a boast. We need grief counselors in Blacksburg. We need to send fire departments to the rescue in the flooded, frigid Northeast. We need food and medicine for poor areas of our community, our nation and our world. How can it be that there was no needy person among them?

People gave up everything. There was no private ownership. There was no Keysian economics. There was no Laffer Curve or supply-siders. If they owned a house, it was sold and the proceeds donated to the church so everyone got “according to need.” Fr. Barkett, when was the last time someone brought you the proceeds from their home sale?

There was no division between rich and poor. There was no division between nationalities, races, or religions. The new Church took seriously the Gospel that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.

Today, we wrestle with the cultural contradictions between capitalism and Christianity. The utopia described by St. Luke in Acts Chapter 5 may only exist in Catholic Worker Houses, the Bruderhof, and other small, some might say fanatic, Christian communities?

But who is the real fanatic? Those who hear the word of God and follow it or those of us who hear the word of God and try to “interpret” it in ways that allow us to pursue our comfortable suburban lifestyle?

Aren’t we, like Nicodemus, really attracted to the life Jesus promises? Maybe we will start sneaking away in the night to be with Jesus? Who knows where it might end? For Nicodemus, the journey ended at the foot of the cross, carrying the Savior’s body to the Tomb with Joseph. Maybe we will be lucky enough to get that close to Jesus someday.

Under the cover of darkness, Nicodemus learns that Jesus sets up the dichotomy between earthly views and eternal teachings. The challenge for Nicodemus and for us – to accept the testimony Jesus gives.

Action

Turn the tables on the acquisitive society. Reject consumption. Throw out all catalog that you get for the next 90 days. Cancel your membership in e-Bay. Cut up all your credit cards except for one to use in emergencies. Then, see if you have more to give to the poor.

If St. Luke was on US Airways Flight 1647 yesterday, he might have fainted at the overdose of consumption displayed in the Sky Mall catalog (www.skymall.com).

The Triple Media Cabinet for only $370 holds 1173 CDs or 567 DVDs. The Kitty Washroom which will hide your litter box and scoop for $100. Then there is the hand-crafted Stained Glass Fireplace Screen, soldered with 541 pieces of art glass. Watch it glow if you part with $239.50.

From fingerprint locks to video monitoring, the acquisitive society spins out of control. The Primeo Touch Dual Espresso/Cappuccino Maker for ONLY $2,889.95. To store your 250-bottle wine collection, there is the temperature controlled closet for only $2,594.95. It’s cheaper to store your wine than to make your coffee.

While drinking your wine, be entertained from your Classic Jukebox, a steal at $2,599.95. But if others don’t want to listen to your favorite tunes, shut them out by plugging in your sound-isolating earphones for only $499.95.

Hanging over your Classic Jukebox is the 16 x 20 autographed picture of the band KISS. It’s only $799 but let’s face it, where else can you get a Gene Simmons signature? Hang it next to the $1,299 Mark McGuire baseball bat (steroids not included). When your friends come over to visit, entertain them on your full-sized arcade game, complete with 25” color monitor. One hundred classic games return to life in this full size upright console when you part with $3,695.95.

How can it be that the needy don’t have what they need when our society is worried about owning video games that cost nearly $4,000?

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