Acts 4:32-35 Ps 133 1 John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31
I have never lost my childhood love for superheroes and I secretly always wanted to be one: a dream of having the power to benefit humanity. Power (the Greek word dynamis = strength, power, ability, wonder working, miracle) occurs 120x in the New Testament. These are not the fantasy super powers of Superman, but the power of God at work in humans.
Luke says that the apostles gave their testimony with mega dynamis (great power). The Holy Spirit, the Life of God, fills believers when they hear and believe the story of Jesus. Resurrection is a manifestation of God at work in this time and place. It gives people hope and redefines the purpose of their life. The powerful message and the Holy Spirit transformed them into a koinonia (community) sharing one kardia and psyche. These two Greek words translated as heart and soul both refer to the spiritual center of our being. They mean the life which is 'Me'. So, the early church was a community and they held all things in common. Therefore, there was no one needy among them.
If Luke offers the ideal image of Christian community, it is certainly not typical of most parishes throughout history. However, in the monastic movement, one does find the Acts model in our own time. Monks hold all things in common. They work for the benefit of all. Unlike Communism, which has required a heavy hand to police and enforce its rules, and is generally plagued by inefficiencies and shortages, the monasteries were often at the forefront of educational, scientific and agrarian advances. In fairness, monasteries are generally very small communities and that helps, but monasteries also have buy in, while communism is imposed. Monasteries are a response to the great power of resurrection preaching. The monks' ''kardia and psyche" are set upon the Lord and the shared values of prayer, work and study. Monasteries, disdained by so many as "not the real world," raise the question: is this world more real than God's Kingdom? Our mission at St. Andrew's draws its inspiration from the insights of St. Benedict--which is at the heart of historic Anglicanism.
Every Christian community, especially the typical parish, is beset by struggles. Sin is enemy at work within and among us. Spiritual darkness snuffs out the light of faith and love. 1 John declares that "God is light and in Him there is no darkness." We, on the other hand, are a mix of dark and light. We walk with the Lord, but many times, we embrace the darkness. Hear John: "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves..." "If we say we have no sin...His word is not within us." The church and her members are full of sin. Let's be honest, we are all selfish and we all choose sin, on a regular basis, because we want to.
"But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father.... Jesus Christ. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world."
Jesus' super power is forgiveness. He used that power on the cross when He said, "Father forgive them." Jesus breathes the power to forgive into His apostles. "As the Father sent me so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive, they are forgiven. If you don't, they aren't." Forgiveness is at the heart of the healing ministry. Forgiveness is the power which sets broken people free. The enemies of God--the world, the flesh and the devil--are hard at work to keep people in darkness, despair and death. Jesus has sent us with His light to set them free.
But super powers are not invincible. Fear and doubt, and all the sinful passions, can render us powerless. We may be sent (apostle), but we do not always go. And meanwhile the world cries out for food and drink, for love and compassion, for healing and forgiveness.... And people ask, "Why doesn't God do something?" And the Lord says to us: "I send you, filled with my Spirit, to do the work of Jesus..."
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