Pentecost XVI : Fidelity, Equality, Solidarity

The very early Church was simply radical.  Following the teachings and example of Jesus, those pioneers in faith established congregations which practised a primitive form of communism, from each according to his ability to each according to his need.  Property was held in common and distributed according to the needs of all within the community  were met.  Moreover, following our Saviour's  strict pacifism those early congregations did not admit military personnel to membership: soldiers applying to be Christian were required to renounce their military commission prior to being baptised and baptised members were excommunicated if they joined the military. 

Everything changed with the growing influence of the Roman Empire and its powerful culture.  Particularly, the Church wanted to be allowed to practise in peace and so became very solicitous of the imperial favour.  After a time, the Church that practised democratic communism became the main rooting section for unbridled capitalism.  The Church that excluded active military became chief cheerleader for imperialism and war.

So the first quality of the first Christians was practical fidelity to the actual teachings of the Master.
Second came the quality of equality.  As today's gospel [Mt/ 20:1-6] reminds us, workers coming into God's Kingdom at all hours of the day share equally in the Eternal Life into which we enter through baptism into God's Catholic Church.  There is to be no judgement of others, no talk of relative worth amongst the members.  Like the generous owner in our story, God does not recognize 'worth.'  God confers it. 

The third quality we inherit from those early faithful is solidarity. When we live into God's free grace and practise unconditional love of God and neighbour, we are on a journey with all the saints -- past, present, and to come.  There is no seniority in the Kingdom, no second-class citizens of the City of God.  That doesn't mean we all have the same vocation, but it does mean that everyone counts and is expected to fulfill the personal call, whether to ordained ministry, to the religious life, or to serve in and out of the congregation as a lay Christian, true in word and deed.  We are in this together, equally loved by God, equally charged with God's mission.