The Spirit of Unity (Unify: 1 of 11)

When the Risen Lord Jesus breathes on the disciples, he gives the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that they have the power of forgiveness of sins. They are afraid and huddled together. Thomas offers a great act of faith, overcoming doubt and fear, and showing us the basis of our unity: faith in Christ. (John 20) Jesus directs their attention outward, to the crying need for forgiveness in the world, instead of on themselves, and on their fear.

The Church’s power to forgive sins, expressed fully in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, bears fruit in our calling to become a community of reconciliation. Being Christians does not exempt us from sin and division. What can distinguish us is the witness of our calling to hold each other to account for sin, and to find ways to reach out and restore sinners to community. The challenge to us is also to uphold and to offer healing to victims of sin.

Acts 4 depicts the first Christians as being of “one heart and soul”. This is astonishingly revealed in the statement that there was not a needy person among them. The same Apostles who received the Holy Spirit’s power of forgiveness are now leading a community of disciples. Acts tells us that they held all things in common. The Apostles are receiving the wealth of the rich and sharing it with the poor. The most basic division in human communities, rich and poor, doesn’t exist. The fear which motivates

hoarding by the rich has evaporated in Spirit-inspired generosity.

How does their witness challenge us today? Is the witness of the first Christian community just a temporary accident? Are we supposed to live like them today? What do we have to fear? Reading further on in Acts, we will learn that the Christians’ unity suffers from the selfishness of its members. We’re a work in progress.

John’s letter (1 John 5) reminds us that that everyone who loves the parent loves the child. Our obedience to God’s commandments, to love Him and to love our neighbour, is rooted in our faith in Christ. John reminds us that the Spirit is the one that testifies to Jesus Christ, who came in water and in blood, and who makes us one. In him we overcome the world, and all of our fears; filled with his Spirit we are new creations in Christ.