Socialism and sacramental living

      I was so utterly dumbfounded one day in seminary. Our class was presently in a canon law course. This course covers miles and miles of subjects involving Sacraments to vocations and vacations, celibacy and sins. I still recall the emphasis placed on not doing anything that would invite scandal. It seemed that scandal was worse than any sin. That would be a whole other blog entry. One of the things that our Canon Lawyer Priest lecturer noted was that we should not be involved in any unions, as in trade unions, labor unions etc.  I am absolutely sure he saw the contortions in my facial expressions as if my brain was about to burst into a cloud of confetti and dust. This following the segment on scandal just about had me walking out of the room. I belonged to a union myself, the nations largest union of college educators, I was heavily involved and it is my Christian values and beliefs that drove my involvement. Now I was being told not to be involved. I still scratch my head at that one.

          I have a old friend from my childhood and we have reconnected on Facebook. She has recently taken to posts that make digs and lament socialism. While I have no desire to go to some template of socialism that is in any way reminiscent of the days of Hitler and Mussolini, I know that we already have in existence many facets of socialism in this great country. I also know that we are not obliged to use any one as a template if we wish to expand on the concept of socialism here in the United States of America. We have the intelligence and great minds to create a truly great socialist democracy. I wish we could find a way for us to  rehabilitate that word 'socialism' and move forward to a society that respects all citizens and helps all citizens be the best that they can be. Free from the tyranny of worry about medicals bills or housing concerns so that they can be productive and contributing to society in more substantive ways.  Am I a socialist? or a communist?  These beliefs are driven not only from my Christian belief that we are all brothers and sisters, all children of God but it also comes right out of today's passage from Scripture.

             I thoroughly believe that the more you are given, the more responsibility to help you are also given. If we truly see everyone as children of God, our brothers and sisters, it also seems we should want to help everyone. The playing field of life's necessities should be a major thrust of our faith in action. Today's passage from the Acts of the Apostles only seems to confirm that notion.

           For level playing fields, activism and yes, even socialism, I pray this day.

Acts 4:32-5:11

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’ Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.