Living as Community

Reflection for the Second Sunday of Easter by FAN Supporter Tobias Harkleroad, OFS

This reflection was originally posted in our April 2 newsletter

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The readings for the Second Sunday of Easter are rooted firmly in community. The first reading from Acts of the Apostles begins with the literal words: “the community of believers” (Acts 4:32). Taken together, the scripture readings invite us, as a Church, to reflect on what it means to be a group of individuals who come together in a shared belief in Jesus Christ and for us to have a relationship with Christ as a community.

The first letter of John is addressed to believers who, like us, have not heard the good news directly from Jesus’ lips nor have we personally encountered the risen Christ. Our faith in Christ has come via a chain of witnesses and believers who have come before us. The epistle reminds us that love for Jesus Christ is carried out in the form of keeping Jesus’ commandments.

The gospel reading describes the community of believers who had personally heard the good news from Jesus gathered in fear behind a locked door. Jesus came to them and was in their midst despite this fact. Perhaps for emphasis to us who were not there in that locked room, the reading continues with the story of Thomas and ends with Jesus saying “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” He is speaking across time to us, those not present in the locked room. 

This is where the idea of harmony among the scripture readings is so important. While at mass we hear the words of Acts of the Apostles first, but after the epistle and gospel are proclaimed, the message from Acts becomes clearer as it vividly shows the community of believers, the early Church, living out Jesus’ commands. The community described in the reading was “of one heart and mind” and, with the Apostles, proclaimed the Resurrection as they actively shared their possessions and resources so that “there was no needy person among them.”

These readings urge us to reflect on and consider how we are living out Christ’s teachings. Are we living Christ’s peace? Are we receiving the Holy Spirit? Are we forgiving sins? Are we sharing so that there are no needy ones among us? 

This is what the quest for justice, peace, and integrity of creation is about, living as a community of believers who take Jesus’ message seriously. FAN offers us so many ways to be a dynamic community of believers who proclaim the hope of the Resurrection by working together and with others to put Jesus’ words in action in the world through political, social, and economic advocacy. FAN is about being believers who are also active citizens seeking the kind of unity and justice that the early Church was building when it worked to ensure that none of its members were in need.

As a community of believers, I pray that we will feel Christ’s peace and with one heart and one mind we will love Christ together by living out his commands to forgive and to take care of the poor and to proclaim the hope of the Resurrection, together!

Tobias Harkleroad, OFS

FAN Supporter