The First Act

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ died on the cross.  On the third day, he was resurrected.

He stayed a while, appeared to a few, spent time with his disciples, and then ascended.

In that brief time, he made it clear to his disciples what he wanted them to do.

What was that?

Well, we can look at the evidence of what that might have been by examining the first actions of the disciples after the ascension.

For that, we can look at today's reading from the Episcopal lectionary -


A Reading from Acts (2:42-47)

Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day, the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.


Let me repeat one of the most interesting sentences from that:


 All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 


Some have called this a form of communism.  I don't know. 

I do know what it is not.  It is not the vulture capitalism that we currently live under, and that many advocate for, including many self-identified Christians.

The disciples quickly realized that the people were not ready for this.  They had inadvertently skipped ahead to where we should wind up.  So they backed away and saved that step for another day when more people were far enough along in their spiritual journey that they welcomed it.

Over two thousand years later, we're still waiting.

So, when will Christ return?  Every day, in some small way, we need to bring the Kingdom of heaven to Earth.  We need to make this a better world for all.

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

This is true.  But I also feel that in many ways, Christ is already here.  He is in each and every one of us, and is made more alive as we act as the hands and feet of Christ on this Earth, bringing his vision and hopes and caring and generosity more alive each day.

Christ is here, in each of us.  We just need to recognize it and improve the world on his behalf.

I don't know when, if ever, we'll be ready for what the disciples did for their First Act. 

Think it impossible?

Christ has come again.  He is here.  Wake up, recognize it, and be born again.  Then ACT on that rebirth to make the world a better place.