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One Bread, One Body - Reflection for May 2, 2023

I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN

"It was in Antioch that the disciples were called Christians for the first time." –Acts 11:26

What does God mean by the name "Christian"? According to Acts of the Apostles, to be a Christian means:

• to believe in Jesus and be converted to the Lord (Acts 11:21),
• to repent and be baptized into Jesus (Acts 2:38; Rm 6:3),
• to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4),
• to remain firm in our "commitment to the Lord" (Acts 11:23),
• to witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8), spread God's Word (Acts 12:24), and lead others to the Lord (see Acts 11:24),
• to be taught intensively for a year or more about our new life in Christ (Acts 11:26; 2:42; 19:9-10),
• to continue steadfastly in Christian communal life (Acts 2:42),
• to center our lives on the breaking of the bread, that is, the Eucharist (Acts 2:42),
• to devote ourselves to praying together with other Christians (Acts 2:42; 1:14),
• to be submissive to the authority of the Church's leaders (see Acts 15:2ff), and
• to suffer for love of Jesus (see 1 Pt 4:13).

In Acts of the Apostles, there are many other essential aspects of being a Christian besides those just mentioned. Additionally, there are many other essentials of being a Christian mentioned in other books of the Bible. Being a Christian is a new, radical, deep, free, and abundant way of life. Are you a Christian by God's standards?

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Acknowledgement

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