Easter in Community: Reflection on the 3rd Sunday of Easter

The Lord is risen, Alleluia! This is the invitatory antiphon we pray daily in the Liturgy of the Hours during the Easter season. But what does the resurrection of the Lord mean for me as an individual or for us as parishioners of St. Thérèse, Little Flower parish? What does it mean for us as Christians today? At Mass during the Easter season, we read from the Acts of the Apostles. This book of the New Testament, attributed to Luke, the author of the third Gospel, presents us with a picture of the life of the early disciples of Jesus. We read about their life in community, devotion to the Word, obedience to the teachings of the apostles, and the breaking of the bread. This early church lived in community and shared what they had with one another. Those who had plenty supported those who did not have, and everyone’s needs were taken care of. Jews were not treated differently than Gentile believers because the risen Christ had broken down every wall of division (Ephesians 2:14). People recognized them as different in the way they showed love to one another, and they called them CHRISTIANS because they were followers of him who was called the Christ.

The example of the early disciples offers us an opportunity for individual and collective reflection. How are we today like the early church? How do we live in community? One thing I observe, which seems commonplace for many of us raised in this culture, is this sense of isolation, worsened by crass individualism. Unfortunately, the prevalent culture is an individualistic one. Community seems to cover familial boundaries and no more. We only call people related to us by blood or law brothers and sisters. For some of us, it is difficult to see a brother or sister as someone with whom I worship weekly or daily. Although the church is part of the larger society, she is called to be a community of people united in one heart and mind (Acts 4:32). This means the joys and sorrows of others should be our joys and sorrows too. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). This is how people come to know us as disciples of Christ, by the love we have for one another (John 13:35).

One thing that has bothered me for some time is our attitude to community. I have had the privilege of baptizing newborn babies outside Mass. I am always concerned when I see people in church but who choose not to participate in the baptism. Very often, families request to have their children baptized outside of Mass for a number of reasons. Sometimes those reasons are honorable, and some other times they bother on a lack of catechesis on the sacrament being celebrated. There is no such thing as a private sacrament. Every sacrament is a public celebration of the church. To receive a new member into the Christian community through baptism is the business of every Christian, and not the exclusive preserve of the families. One does not need an invitation or to be affiliated with the family of the baby to participate in a baptism. Baptism, and any other sacrament, are communal celebrations. Families should understand that anyone who wants to participate as part of the Christian community who welcomes the newly baptized, is always welcome.

Another example of things that bother me is funerals. When a person, who was a member of a Christian community dies, they do not cease being members of the Universal Church. Why do families request a private funeral? Why do obituaries read that? To say a funeral will be private excludes the participation of other members of the Christian community to which the deceased belonged. This is a sad situation; again, it bothers on a lack of proper catechesis. I have seen funerals where only family members were present. How did we get here? What happens when a person dies who had no living family? What happens to people who are not married, divorced, widowed or orphaned? What would the Christian community do when they die? Abandon them in death as it did while they lived? This is sad and regrettable. When we celebrate funerals for the deceased, the Christian community commends one of its own to the mercy of God. It is never a private affair. I do not think any member of the Body of Christ needs an invitation to attend a funeral, even if they were not related to the deceased person by blood. The right we have to participate at these ceremonies is our one baptism. We must all do some reflection, and rethink our adoption of the individualistic mindset of our surrounding society.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Julius Okojie