By Most Rev Prakash Mallavarappu,
Archbishop of Visakhapatnam –
The members of the community of disciples were called Christians for the first time in Antioch (Acts 11:26). We also read that the members are also referred as the “followers of the way.”
Few things that characterized and distinguished the members of this newly emerging community from the rest of the Jews and Gentiles: accepting in faith Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified as the fulfillment of the promise of God to the Jews; He is the savior of all mankind, Jews and non-Jews; believe that he was crucified and died but now he is raised and alive; their faith is founded on the testimony and witnessing life of the Apostles; they repent for sins, believe in the resurrection of Christ and are baptized; the Apostles who were accompanied by God with many signs and wonders were the main spokespersons and leaders of the community of disciples.
The new community of disciples of Jesus of Nazareth was sustained by three things: faith in the Risen Christ, prayer, listening to teaching of the apostles, and breaking of the bread. They lived a life of sharing by pooling their possessions for the needs of the members so that no one was in need. This life of the newly formed community and the personal credibility of the Apostles who were in the service of the community were appealing and were convincing to those who saw and heard of what was happening. The result was the gradual increase in the number of people added to the community in a short span of time.
All of them converted to the new way, the way of the believers and followers of Christ Jesus. Faith in the Lord brings about change and transformation: Through faith one is saved and once a person experiences salvation in Christ, it is a new life. Faith in Christ brings about a conversion in the believer and conversion means a new beginning in one’s way of understanding one’s life. Accordingly, a new way of living life begins, both in relation to God and in relation to other human beings. True faith is transformative in so far as a tangible change comes into the life of the believer.
In other words, true faith and believing is manifested in one’s thoughts, actions, and relationships centered around Christ and His teachings. Faith-prompted thoughts, words and actions would sustain the believer to continue in that experience of joy of living life in a new way. It is a life of bearing witness to Jesus Christ and to what one believes. It is this joy that gives strength to persevere in spite of the difficulties and challenges that come on the way.
The newly formed apostolic community consisted of believers who found joy in belonging to this new community. Belongingness was shown in being together and in sharing what they had for each other’s needs. Through prayer and through different services the members of the community stood in support of the Apostles. What do we learn for our life as members of the Church today? We need to see if we experience joy in the sole fact that we are members of this Community of believers? Community means a living in unity for a set goal and there is that love and sharing between the members.