Day 3 - United in Learning

"They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles." (Acts 2:42) The early Church sets a stellar example of unquenchable desire to know the Lord.  What's more, they acted upon this desire. The word devoted itself tells us that it was a commitment that they undertook seriously. 

            The numbers were staggering:

"Every day the Lord added to their number" (Acts 2:47); "the number of men grew to about five thousand" (Acts 4:4); "The Word of God continued to spread and grow." (Acts 12:24); "Then he and all his family were baptized at once." (Acts 16:33); "So they arranged a day with him (Paul) and came to his lodgings in great numbers." (Acts 28:23) And the list goes on… In each of these incidents a few points can be made regarding the tenacity of the search for truth that was a mark of the early Church.

            1. Despite difficulties, even political oppression, the people gathered. They gathered in the synagogues, even when it was clear that those in power within the Jewish hierarchy were largely (not exclusively) opposed to them. They would seek out the apostles, when the apostles could not come to them, as in the case of visiting Paul in prison.  (Acts 28:23)

            2. They participated in spreading the Good News that they learned.  This must be the case, or it could not have spread so quickly. Besides, we know for certain that the Apostles did not go out alone, instead, very often a lay man would journey with them and share in the struggle of preaching the Word. Their love of the truth, in learning, is also evidenced in that they brought the Word into their homes. This was in the case of the breaking of the bread, as said a few weeks ago - but also in the preaching of the Good News (the two going hand in hand from the very beginning).  Hence whole households were baptized into the Church and received the Holy Spirit.

            3. The people turned to the Church to know God, Jesus Christ. Both apostle and lay were accepted by the community as bearing the Word of God.  Lay men would be sent by the apostles in order to prepare the people. They would arrive, letter in hand, proving that indeed he came as a minister of the Church - as acknowledged by the Apostle's script. (Acts 15:22) The people were open to learn from anyone - Luke, Barnabas, Paul, Peter, Philip, Silas, etc - with the seal of assurance that they preached the Good News of Jesus Christ as handed down by the apostles.

            We must gather together to hear the Word of God - despite difficulties. We must participate in spreading the Good News, primarily by bringing this Good News into our own homes. And, finally,we must turn to the Church to understand the Truth taught to us by Christ. 

Day 3: Devotion to the Apostles’ Teaching Unites Us -  looks at the first essential element of unity; the Word of God delivered through the teaching of the apostles. The church in Jerusalem reminds us that, whatever our divisions, these teachings urge us to devote ourselves in love to each other, and in faithfulness to the one body which is the church.