The first Christians accepted God's grace to be one as He and Jesus are One (Jn 17:21). Although their unity was far from perfect, as Acts of the Apostles repeatedly indicates, this divine unity gave the early Church exceptional power in witnessing (Acts 4:33), for Jesus promised that the world would believe in Him if the Church had this supernatural unity (Jn 17:21).
This miraculous unity was not just an invisible, spiritual attitude but something very practical. Most early believers did not consider their possessions primarily private property, but above all for the common good (Acts 4:32). Therefore, they had no one "needy among them, for all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds. They used to lay them at the feet of the apostles to be distributed to everyone according to his need" (Acts 4:34-35).
In summary, to evangelize with power, we need to provide for our needy brothers and sisters. We do this not by raising money but by having a new, redeemed attitude toward material possessions. This attitude results from God doing a miracle of unity among us. Without accepting and living a divine unity from God, we cannot proceed with the Christian life. Therefore, answer Jesus' prayer for unity. Be one in a miraculous way. Begin to be a Christian.
| PRAYER: | Father, may we be willing to die to be united with our brothers and sisters (see Jn 11:51-52). |
| PROMISE: | "The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound it makes but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes. So it is with everyone begotten of the Spirit." –Jn 3:8 |
| PRAISE: | Jesus healed Ricardo of alcoholism and repaired a serious division in his marriage. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College