Today’s Readings:
Acts 4:32-37
Psalm 93:1-2,5
Luke 1:26-38
Selfless people are the rarest kind of people you will ever find. They are rare because our primary disposition is to be selfish. Let me explain. If you find yourself in a room with eleven other people. And then there is a table with 13 bottles of water and 13 cupcakes. And you are asked to take one bottle and one cake each. You are the first person to go for them—what would you do? If you are the last person to go forward and take a piece of cupcake and a bottle of water, what would you do?
Our initial thought upon scanning the room to see that there are 12 people and scanning the table to see that there are 13 cupcakes and 13 bottles of water is to make excuses. “I can have another cake and water because it will not affect anybody. In fact, I am very thirsty and hungry after travelling a long distance.” The last person might say, “since I am the last person and every other person has taken one piece already, they don’t need a second cupcake. So, I’ll just do everyone a favour and clear the table”. This attitude is what we call selfishness. Why? Because in all these decisions, we have shown that we place ourselves before everyone else. That is the way the world thinks. But with the coming of Christ and the event of Easter, Jesus turned the world’s values on its head. This means that we must now begin to live not just for ourselves but for others. And the ideal image of Jesus’ accomplishment is seen in today’s first reading: “The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common” (Act 4:32). This means that everyone understood that their belongings were held in stewardship for anyone who might need it.
So, if anyone has need of a bottle of water that I don’t need now, they are the natural owner of that bottle of water. If somebody needs a pair of shoes and I have a spare pair that I am not wearing right now, the shoeless one is the natural owner of the shoes. If I have money in my account and someone is hungry or stranded, the money is theirs. This is the Christian mentality, the Kingdom mentality and the Christ-like thing to do. But often this is not the easiest decision for us to make. Consider closely the words of Jesus when he speaks of this novel idea: ‘Do not be surprised when I say: ‘You must be born from above. The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit’ (John 3:7,8). This means that your mentality should be that of heaven—to love others as you love yourself. Do to others what you wish done to you.
Here are six things to keep in mind as the natural Christian disposition:
UNITY — Be disposed to love others and to submit to the will of God.
COMMUNITY — You must be concerned about the needs of others. You might have today and be in need tomorrow.
WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION — Just as Jesus gave Himself; you must be willing to give of yourself and your substance.
SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH — The Church is the nucleus of the new society. Our love for each other in the family of the Church will be felt out in the larger world.
BORN FROM ABOVE — Heaven is the goal and it must begin here with your lifestyle and the way you love others.
KNOW YOUR IDENTITY — Your baptism and confession identify you as a follower of Christ. Through Baptism, you are a citizen of heaven. Through Confirmation, you are witness to the Resurrection.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud: Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Forgive my sins, take control of my heart and lead me in your righteous path by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord.
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest as the case may be.
Prayer:
1. Lord, teach me to be selfless, help me to love my neighbour as myself.
2. May I never desire undue advantage over others but raise others up, just as I desire to be lifted up in my moments of weakness through Christ our Lord. Amen.
3. Heavenly Father, teach me to trust in You. Teach me selflessness. Help me to love my neighbour as myself. Spread far and wide the kingdom mentality by my example through Christ our Lord. Amen.
4. I humbly kneel before You, Heavenly Father. I submit to Your command. Give me grace to carry Your blessings every day, to everywhere, everywhere through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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