Regarding today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, some commentators point that the first Christian community members shared their properties because they thought the end of the world was coming soon. That is why they sold and entrusted their properties to the apostles, those commentators suppose. Similar behaviours are shown among modern-day religious groups that believe in the imminent end of the world. Followers sell everything and give it to their community while they stay together in a commune.

If this speculation were correct, the first Christians would have lived a life of illusion. For the last two thousand years, Christians did not see the second coming of Christ. It seems that following generations of Christians realized the end of the world was not coming soon and started building cathedrals and basilicas that would last hundreds of years. And it seems that Christians no longer practiced communal ownership of properties but turned into private ownership and accumulation of personal wealth.

However, I do not think the presupposition about the end time led the first Christians to sharing properties. The Acts of the Apostles, in fact, tells us why they were willing to share. “The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul,” it says. The first Christians were in complete union by the Holy Spirit. When Christians live by the Holy Spirit, they recognize Christians as families in Christ. Since the Holy Spirit is love, it was natural for them to share everything as an expression of love. Moreover, when the Holy Spirit dwells in Christians, they no longer worship money and wealth. Instead, they can utilize them to promote the gospel and give thanks and glory to the Lord. That is how the first Christians were happy to share everything.

When the Christian faith was no longer under persecution, Christians expressed the faith outwardly. They did not spare and save when they built the house of the Lord. That is why we inherited awe-inspiring basilicas and cathedrals from our ancestors of the faith. Whether poor or rich, common or noble, everyone was equally God’s child and shared the most advanced parts of culture inside those churches.

When Christians no longer live by the Holy Spirit, their society suffers polarization of wealth. They forget the joy of sharing. Instead, everyone is unhappy because everyone wants more and feels wanting. People live a life of mortgages for bigger and nicer houses. But they cannot spend much time in their homes with families because everyone must work for more money. As homes are getting empty, so are churches. Empty church pews are a sign of our times. It is a sign that many Christians are not with the Holy Spirit. Christians do not share. Maybe some money, but not much of their time. The first Christians’ sharing was not an economic system. It was sharing their life.

I pray that we may live once again by the Holy Spirit. Then, no one will be in need, but everyone will be fulfilled.