Reflection
Two of the hardest Christian challenges appear in today’s readings. In Acts, how much of our personal treasure are we willing to share with others? In St. John’s gospel, how much faith should we have in the word of the Lord, and why is having faith more logical than we might think?
On Generosity
Sometimes it appears the poorest of the poor can be the most generous, like the teacher in Indonesia who honored a guest’s request for a can of Coca-Cola, even though that drink cost a week’s wages. A true story. The can arrived an hour after the request, warm, and had to be opened with a rusty nail. Or how about desert dwellers who, for a stranger who crawls to the tent in desperation, will share a last bowl of rice and kill the last chicken?
“There was no needy person among them,” it says in Acts, “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.” Further on, an example of selling a “piece of property” shows generosity, but to be honest, not as difficult as killing the last chicken. Even so, as the reading began, “The community of believers was of one heart and mind…[and] had everything in common.”
Giving back feels good, but it’s even more powerful when we get personally involved and tap into our resources seriously.
Sharing unselfishly what we have with those in deep need brings a level of fulfillment that ‘usual’ generosity just can’t match.
On Faith
As to the challenge to have faith in the Lord’s word, Jesus’ example could not be wiser or more practical: “…we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.” Compare that to being a parent with rock-solid advice like begging a too-adventurous child to wear a helmet on a motorcycle. “What we know and have seen” cannot be argued against, but we still see the child having more faith in their own safety, good luck, and a stupid, deep personal need for complete freedom than in anything we have to say. Jesus answers with similar incredulity and a firm call to faith in Him: “If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe it if I tell you about heavenly things?”
Is it any surprise that those who walk with true faith in Jesus seem so grounded? While imitating His life is a daily challenge, the payoff is clear. There is a dominant, lasting joy that comes from trusting him in so many areas, including with our deepest struggles, rather than trying to fix everything ourselves.
