 |
|
     |
|
|
|
Eucharistic meditation for January 25:
Acts 2:41-47
In the book of Acts, we see the early church carrying out Jesus' instructions regarding the proper use of wealth. After the Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, and 3000 were saved, the disciples begin to sell their possessions in order to share with other believers who were in need. In Acts 6, the church set up a regular system to ensure that there is no need among them, that there is no needy widow. At the same time, they are maintaining Jesus' table fellowship. Jew and Gentile, Parthians and Medes and Elamites, Cretans and Arabs were sitting down at a single table.
These two practices of the church are inseparable. As we sit down at this table each week, and share bread, we are simultaneously committing ourselves to share our goods, our gifts, our lives with one another. If we share bread at this table, and then go our separate ways, then we are contradicting what we have done at this table. The word for this in Acts is "fellowship," translating koinonia, or community. (The word for "common" in Acts 2:44 is the root of koinonia, the word koinon.) Fellowship means shared life, having our lives in common, living as if we belonged to one another and not to ourselves.
As we come to the Lord's table, let us not only be diligent in holding to the apostles teaching and diligent in prayer, but let us also be diligent in breaking bread together and in fellowship.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 07:17 AM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
