Acts 4 — "The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common." We gain great insight into the work of Christ's grace by examining the life of the earliest believers: how did they who were first transformed by His grace, and who heard His teachings and saw His miracles personally, understand the Christian life? A reading of the Acts of the Apostles gives us occasion to examine our lifestyle in that light. In this small passage we are reminded that all is gift, and that the community understood what is it to depend on God's gifts completely. If God's transforming Grace has not yet reached our wallets and savings, then we have an examination of conscience to make: how fully have I allowed myself to depend on God's gifts alone? How much, rather, do I depend on providing for myself and seeing to my own financial security, and only from my excess do I truly trust God's providence? Unlike the first community of believers, is only part of me given over to Christ's lordship, and while I see to my own material needs I proclaim Christ as my sovereign Lord in a few other areas of my life? So, here's the question: what does my approach to finances reveal about how much I really – really – trust God?

April 17, 2012

Msgr. William J. King