The Acts of the Apostles

Welcome to Stories Seldom Heard.  I especially would like to welcome the parishioners of Our Lady of the Nativity Church, San Luis Obispo, CA, and to the Small Faith Community, Texas.

This Easter Season, that we have just entered, is a rich time to reflect on our own spirituality and faith development.  It is also the time when selections from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts) will be our first readings at Mass.  Before Luke writes Acts he tells us in his gospel that Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdala; Joanna; Mary, the mother of James; and the other women at the tomb.  He had appeared to Peter at the tomb.  He appeared to Cleopas and his companion (perhaps his wife) on the road to Emmaus.  Later He appeared to the eleven.  We also hear that those who had witnessed his presence were filled with joy and “were continually in the Temple praising God” (Lk 24:53).

The Acts is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel: Luke 24:49.  Acts is important for many reasons.  Luke is a third generation Christian, a friend of Paul’s, who desires to “write an ordered account for you, Theophilus that your Excellency may learn how well-founded the teaching is that you have received” (Lk 1:4).   Acts deepens our awareness of how difficult those early days, months and years were for all of those who believed in Jesus.  Questions constantly arose. What were they to do after Jesus’ death?  How were they to move forward?  Some disciples, no doubt, still hoped that Jesus would be an earthly king and restore Israel.  But soon it became apparent once again that this hope was not Jesus’ mission.  Acts is our main source, along with Paul’s letters, of the early Christian communities: their struggles, their faith development and growth, and their enthusiasm to preach the Good News they had received.  In Acts we meet many of the first converts by name.  Their stories give us an intimate view of how Jesus’ teachings developed and spread far beyond the confines of Palestine “to the ends of the earth.”

Acts begins with the disciples returning to Jerusalem.  Unlike many of our churches’ stained glass window illustrations depicting the twelve apostles gathered together in a room, Acts reminds us that along with the twelve there were one-hundred-and-twenty disciples, women and men, gathered together.  (Acts 1:15) We can only imagine the atmosphere as they discussed, ate, and prayed together.  I’m sure there was confusion, fear and anxiety about what was to come.  Probably no one was on the same page.  But according to Luke 24:53, they were still preaching in the Temple. So even though there was much public opposition and a profound sense of loss, they preached vigorously.  They understood that the mission before them was great.  In light of that fact, one of the first actions they took as a community was to choose someone to take Judas’ place.  Out of the gathering of believers present they chose two members as possible candidates.  Together the community prayed.  With discerning hearts they trusted that Jesus would speak to them.  “The lot fell to Matthias” (1:26).

This was a memorable event.  It was their first action as a newly formed faith community after Jesus’ death.  Perhaps it was important for Peter and the community to have some semblance of what had been.  So they chose a twelfth apostle.  Often when we go through transitions it’s comforting to remember what it was like before the change began to take place.  So we try to duplicate what was.  We try to hold on to the experience: keep life from changing.  But what is curious about this action is that Matthias is not mentioned again in scripture.  Luke gives us an extensive description of the election process.  We even know the name of the man who was not chosen: Justus.  He too is not mentioned again.  Drawing strength from the Jewish tradition, it was important to Peter and others that there were twelve apostles representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  But reading these passages with new eyes, we also acknowledge the importance of every member of the community whether known by name or not.

This first community recognized that Jesus’ invitation to preach and heal was not an exclusive invitation or responsibility.   Those present knew that well.  Mary Magdala and the other women were the first to experience the risen Jesus.  He sent them to preach the Good News of his resurrection to Peter and the other apostles.  Earlier in Luke’s Gospel Jesus appointed “seventy-two others” (in pairs) to go ahead of him and prepare his way. (Lk 10:1)  Every believer is called to be actively involved in the preaching of the Good News.  In Acts we will meet many new people by name.  Yet, there were enormous crowds of people whose names we will never know: ordinary people like us who believed, preached and lived the gospel.  Name recognition is not a criterion for discipleship, holiness or faithfulness.  Often it is only a matter of circumstances.

The task before the early Christians was enormous.  It’s easy to imagine their consternation. Where to begin?  What’s the next step?  For them and for many of us the next step is our present stance: waiting and praying with listening hearts as did the members of that first community.  Yet, unlike those Christians we have already received the Holy Spirit: not just once at confirmation, but many times over.  This Easter Season is a time for us to live our Easter faith: to hope against hope that peace will come step by step; that lies and deceitful actions will be exposed so that the truth will be seen and followed.

We know the works of the Spirit.  Early in Luke’s Gospel Jesus unrolled the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah.  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”  Jesus is the one who fulfills this prophecy, but he invites us to be his companions.

I was reminded of this commission at the Easter Vigil.  Even though it was evening, the church was filled with children of every age.  There was an unusual energy as people greeted one another.  We lit our candles from the blazing fire at the entrance of the church and processed to our seats. The woman sitting next to me said she wasn’t a Catholic, but she had come because a friend who was going to be baptized had invited her.  There was a large group of women and men, teens and older adults who received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.   As I listened to the baptismal words calling us to be priest, prophets and royalty, I wondered what would happen if each of us took those words to heart.  Priests: to pray for and serve others.  Prophets: to be willing to seek out and speak the truth and be willing to work to change the unjust structures that continue to keep people in poverty.  Royalty: to live and cherish all life as one family of the same God.

Most of us were baptized as babies many years ago.  But the baptismal words that I heard at the Vigil and the words of Isaiah that Jesus claimed as his mission are an essential part of our mission.  The Spirit of God has been given to us.  God has anointed us to bring glad tidings to the poor.  God sends us to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year of mercy.  So what would this year look like in our lives?  It might look like this.  While visiting those in prison, we also work to end the death penalty.  While delivering groceries to a food pantry, we also support local family grocery stores. While volunteering at a women’s shelter, we also support just rent control measures.  While visiting the infirmed, we also give blood.  We also might encourage and accompany a friend to get physical or psychological help.

Never underestimate the power of a personal invitation.  Inviting another person to consider a new ministry is a gift: a grace.  Recently, two men asked a friend of mine to accompany them as they visit the men’s county jail.  My friend took time to think and pray about it.  He attended a workshop to help prepare him for this new ministry.  He now has become a regular visitor at the jail: all because of an invitation.  A teenage girl I met a few weeks ago has decided to learn more about the Catholic Church because her friend invited her to an Inquiry Class for teenagers.  We might think about doing the same.  Invite an associate to join us for a prayer vigil outside a detention center or ask her/him to help us initiate a letter writing campaign sponsored by “Bread for The World.”  We might gather a group of concerned parishioners to have an initiative placed on the ballot concerning affordable housing.

Acts reminds us of the power and importance of our faith community.  Responding to the Spirit individually is important, but this Easter Season underlines the strength and wisdom of community involvement.  The Spirit we have received is a liberating, healing and creative Spirit.  Like the fire we lit on Holy Saturday night, the Spirit wants to ignite our faith communities so that they will burn bright and bring the flames of healing, compassion and justice into our world.

A Blessing in the Name of Fire, Flame and Light

As short as the time from the spark to flame, so brief may the distance be between your hearts’ desire and action.  May you discover beneath your fear embers of anger to kindle justice.

As air intensifies the hunger of the fire, may the thought of death breathe new energy into your love of life.  As the fire cleanses dross, may the flame of passion burn away what is false.

May the Spirit’s courage and wisdom cause your life to flame in the name of the new Fire, the Flame, and the Light

Special thanks to  Mary Ellen Green and Maria Hetherton who have helped in editing this article.