Lesson-7
CHURCH: THE COMMUNITY OF
PEOPLE WHO SHARE
One day Jesus went up a mountain, on the shore of the sea of Tiberius, and sat
down with his disciples. And a multitude come up to him. He felt compassion for them.
He taught them and healed the sick among them. When it was evening the disciples
asked Jesus to send the people away, so that they could go to the villages and buy
food for themselves. But Jesus told them : “They need not go away: you give them
something to eat.” They told him, “we have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”
Jesus told them to make the people sit in rows. Thus Jesus took the loaves and fish
and blessed them and gave them to his disciples to be served among the people. All
the people ate and were satisfied and they gathered twelve baskets full of fragments
that were left over. (Jn. 6:1-13, Mt. 14:13-21).
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Sharing in Jesus' Life and Teaching
Jesus came for those who suffer hunger and
thirst, those who are afflicted by various diseases and
those who are over burdened by their sins. He gave
himself totally for them. He gave them his flesh and
blood and his entire life. The disciples of Jesus should
be marked by this quality of sharing.
John, the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus told
the people that those who had two coats should share
with those who had none and do the same with food.
(Lk. 3:11). The message of sharing shows clearly in
Jesus' teaching. He asked his disciples to give freely
what they had received as gifts. To the one who would
take away your coat, give your cloak as well. While
giving alms, the left hand should not know what the right
hand is doing. (Mt. 10:8; 5:40-42; 6:3-4). The same
message of sharing is brought home in the parable of
the Good Samaritan. Jesus multiplied bread in order to
share it with those who were hungry. The Church, called
to follow the example and teaching of Jesus, is bound to
be a sharing community.
The Example of the Early Church
The early Church lived in its fullness the
compassion of Jesus and His readiness to share. We
read in the Acts of the Apostles, the community of
believers was of one heart and one soul. Nobody
claimed anything as his own. Everything was held in
common and there was no one in want among them.
For, they sold everything they had and brought the
proceeds and laid it at the feet of the apostles and
distribution was made according to each one's need
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(Acts 4:32-36). We read in the Acts, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles
teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). As they
continued to grow in their generosity and good will to share, there was no one who
suffered poverty or want among them.
The Teaching of the Early Church
We should grow in our generosity and readiness to share with others in
imitation of Jesus who though he was rich, became poor for our sake. St. Paul in his
letter to the Philippians teaches us on alms giving and charity (Phil. 4:15-18). God
loves those who give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7). Alms giving is an acceptable sacrifice to
God. Apostle James tells us that we should show our faith in action by helping those
who are in need. “If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you
says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill”, and yet you do not supply
their bodily needs, what is the good of that? so faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead”
(James 2:15-17). The disciples urged the early Christian community to share with
others through their teachings and examples with a generous heart.
The breaking of the bread in the early Church was an occasion of sharing with
the poor. St. Paul scolded the Church in Corinth for neglecting the poor during the
'agape' at the Lord's supper. Paul wanted to collect money to help the poor Church in
Judea. “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever
extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come” (1 Cor. 16:2).
The Hope of Resurrection as the Motive Force for Sharing
It was the hope of resurrection that motivated the early Christians to share
what they had, with the needy ones. Another motive force that prompted them to share
was the teaching of Jesus about the final Judgment at the end of time and how he
would address the just and say that when they did it to the least of his brethren, they did
it to him. Those who put all their trust in material things can never share. Only those
who put their trust in God and believe in resurrection and eternal life can share what
they have with others. The awareness that everything in the world is perishable and
nothing material can be carried away when one dies, prompts people to share what
they have with others. They are urged to engage themselves in charitable deeds and
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sharing of material resources so that they may reap its fruit in eternal life.
The Eucharistic Sacrifice and Sharing
The Eucharistic sacrifice, which is at the very centre of Christian life, urges and
enables us to share. The bread that we break and the cup that we share at the
Eucharistic table is a strong invitation and call to the worshipping community, to share
what they have with the poor while living out their Christian lives. As believers, who
participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice, we should be prepared to share with others all
that we have. We really become witnesses of
sharing when we give our knowledge, our
time, our wealth and our health for the well
being of others, especially the poor, the sick,
the aged and the abandoned.
A Sharing Church
Sharing is the fundamental nature of
the Church which is the body of Christ. When
one member of the body suffers pain, it
affects the entire body and steps will be taken
to relieve that pain. In the same way, in the
body of Christ, the Church, we should
engage ourselves in charitable deeds to
relieve the sufferings of others.
The majority of the world population
who are poor, find their hope in the Charity
and sharing of the Church. The institutions
managed by the Catholic Church use their resources for the common good and not for
the individual benefit of those who run these institutions. We can see this spirit
reflected in the educational institutions, hospitals, orphanages, counseling centers,
hospitals for the mentally retarded, boys' homes, homes for the aged, centers for the
care of cancer patients and aids patients and rehabilitation centers for those who are
released from prisons.
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The Church is proud of Fr. Damien who lived and died for lepers, St. Vincent de
Paul who dedicated his total life for the care of the poor and the abandoned, and
Mother Teresa who became a model of Charity and love for the entire world. The
Church should be always at the beck and call of the poor, the abandoned and the
persecuted. The members of the Church should actively participate in works of charity
and become witnesses of a sharing Church in the world.
Word of God Word of God to Remember
to Read and Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of
Meditate the least of these who are members
Acts 4:32-5:11 of my family, you did it to me
(Mt. 25:40).
Let us Pray
My Resolution
Jesus who gave yourself totally for us in
I shall use my time and
an act of sharing help us to share
energy to help my
with others all the gifts you
fellow-students.
have given us.
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To Think with the Church
Similarly, the Church encompasses with her love all those who are
afflicted by human misery and she recognizes in those who are poor
and who suffer, the image of her poor and suffering founder.
She does all in her power to relieve their need and in them she strives
to serve Christ. (Vat. II, The Church, No. 8)
To Know the Mother Church
Mar Thomma Christians used to observe faithfully fasting, abstinence and
almsgiving. They observed abstinence on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the year.
Besides, they observed abstinence for 25 days in preparation for Christmas, that is
during the advent season, and 50 days, during the season of great lent. Over and
above they observed a three day's abstinence known as 'Moonnu Nompu', an eight
days' abstinence known as 'Ettu Nompu' and a fifteen days abstinence known as
'Pathinanchu Nompu'. On days of abstinence they ate only vegetarian food. The
days of fasting and abstinence were days of special prayers and almsgiving.
Questions
1. Christian sharing is rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus. Explain.
2. What was the life-style of the early Church?
3. What are the teachings of the early Church on sharing?
4. It is the hope of resurrection that urges one to share: illustrate.
5. Sharing is the fundamental nature of the Church. Explain.
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