Word to the Wise
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 - 2nd Week of Easter - Tues
[Acts 4:32-37 and John 3:7b-15]The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy perso 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]
Two passages from the Acts of the Apostles - the one above and Acts 2:41-47 - have had a tremendous influence in the development of Christian communities or religious orders. When I say "Christian communities" I mean any group of believers who unite to live the way described in those passages. History is full of such efforts. A visit to "Old Salem" in North Carolina or to one of the former Shaker colonies in Kentucky or New England would give examples from the past. A visit to the Hutterite communities in Northern Montana or an number of cooperative communities based on faith that are sprinkled around the country would suffice to prove that influence. St. Dominic was strongly influenced by that vision of community (as were the Albigensian heretics whose use of these passages made them very effective preachers).
Both descriptions are rather idealized because we do know there was confict at times over the distribution of resources. [Acts 6:1] At the same time, the effort to live in community and share resources is a tremendous challenge to the individualism of American culture. Dorothy Day's Catholic Worker houses stand as an example in our own time. I have been a member of the Dominican Order for 50 years and I can testify that diversity in community can lead to vigorous debate, but there is a tremendous sense of belonging to something bigger than one's own desires, especially since it is a matter of faith and preaching.
Parents who must deal with their own desires as well as those of their children and grandchildren know how difficult it is to balance community and individual needs. Religious superiors (I've been one of those) have to make the same kinds of decisions even after community discussion shows no concensus. Nevertheless, the scriptures from Acts can help us to understand the power of community witness when individuals are willing to subordinate personal desires for the sake of a larger goal. We can ask ourselves how we fit in that kind of picture. AMEN
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