My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what does it truly look like to be a community of faith? Today's readings paint a picture that i...
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what does it truly look like to be a community of faith? Today's readings paint a picture that is both challenging and incredibly beautiful. We are given a glimpse into the mechanics of heavenly love acting on earthly ground. To unpack this message, we will structure our reflection around three words: Surrender, Sharing, and Salvation.
Our first word is Surrender. In the Gospel, Jesus continues His conversation with Nicodemus. He speaks of a mysterious reality: "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up." Jesus is prophesying His death on the cross. The cross is the ultimate act of surrender. Jesus surrenders His very life out of love for the Father and for us. As Christians, to be "born from above" means we must also learn the art of surrender. We must surrender our pride, our need to control everything, and our attachment to our own comfort. Until we let go of our tight grip on our own lives, our hands are not free to receive the grace God wants to pour into them.
This total surrender leads directly to our second word: Sharing. Look at the magnificent example in our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The early community of believers "was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own." They sold their property and laid the proceeds at the feet of the apostles to be distributed to anyone in need. Why did they do this? Because they had surrendered their hearts to Christ, and therefore, they were detached from material things. They realized that everything they had was a gift from God, meant to be shared. In our modern world, we are constantly taught to accumulate, to protect what is ours, and to build higher fences. But the Gospel challenges us to build longer tables. Sharing is the physical evidence that the Holy Spirit is alive in our hearts.
This brings us to our final word: Salvation. Jesus tells Nicodemus that whoever believes in Him—the One who is lifted up—may have eternal life. Salvation is not just a ticket to heaven after we die. Salvation begins right now. When a community lives in the kind of harmony and generosity described in the Acts of the Apostles, they are bringing a piece of heaven down to earth. When you forgive someone, when you feed the hungry, when you reach out to the lonely, you are participating in the saving work of Christ.
Let us ask ourselves today: What am I holding on to too tightly? What do I need to surrender? May the Lord give us the grace to look at the cross, to learn the joy of sharing, and to walk confidently on the path of salvation together as one family. Amen.
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