Finding similar responsibilities

As a young person, one memory that has always stayed with me is hearing about a new startup in my hometown. The first 5-8 employees were extremely committed to its success. They also had a reputation for having fun and working well together toward their common goal. The town watched the company grow until a larger company eventually bought it out to expand the operation.

 

As the larger company hired more employees, the original staff took on greater responsibilities, and many new people were hired. As the company grew, it became clear that some people were highly committed to the company's success, while others were either there to do little more than their job or simply to collect a check. As work ebbed and flowed from season to season, the leadership would rely heavily on those committed to the company's success to carry them through difficult times.

 

The scripture readings used during the Easter season often focus on the early church and how she navigated the need for growth and the seemingly overwhelming forces in society that sought to close her in. These readings are always particularly inspiring. The Acts of the Apostles provides a stunning testimony to the quality and character of the early Christians as their faith was tested in a world often hostile to this new message of salvation.

 

Stories such as the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the speeches of Saint Paul, and the countless acts of charity practiced by the early Christians demonstrate their commitment to Christ and show that they never sought the easy way out or settled for a more comfortable path. Their intention was to live lives completely in the will of God.

 

Saint John Chrysostom-a fourth-century saint nicknamed the golden tongue for his eloquent and powerful preaching-once spoke about the early Christians, saying: "They ignored the danger of death.. they forgot how few they were, they never noticed how many were against them, or the power or strength or wisdom of their enemies. Their power was greater than all of that: theirs was the power of him who had died on the Cross and risen again."

 

With the legalization of Christianity in 313 AlD, the Church began to grow by leaps and bounds because people were drawn to the love and care Christians showed for one another and to the integrity they upheld both publicly and privately. The Church is much larger today than it has ever been; some estimates place it at 2.6 billion members. Like the company whose members began to show different levels of commitment as it grew, the Body of Christ can be both strengthened and compromised. The actions of those around us should never cause us to lose faith.

 

Some years ago, someone said it is often a good idea to look to the faith of our grandparents as an example of how to live. Each generation carries its strengths and its limitations. Like that company that began with just a few highly motivated and dedicated people and grew into something large, so too does Christ and the church rely on your love and commitment to serve him, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and bringing others to himself.

 

As we look at the world the early Christians sought to convert and the courage that carried them forward, we see a similar responsibility today. Perhaps these words from Jesus are more relevant than ever,

 

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20