In today’s Divine Mercy readings we learn a great deal about how we are to live as Christian disciples. Christ has risen and the Church that He established lives on. His disciples carry on their faith in Him and teach us how to do the same.

In the first reading from the book of Acts, St. Luke paints a picture of what life was like in the early Church. “The community of believers was of one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions were his own. They had everything in common. … There was no needy person among them.”

Luke’s description tells us that the early Christians lived charitably towards one another. They loved the Lord, and out of their love for Him, they loved one another. Their lives as Christians were rooted in their faith in Christ. That faith led them to love — love God and love neighbor. And so they lived in love of one another recognizing that nothing they had was ultimately theirs; it belonged to God. It became their lived experience to use all they had been given by God in service of one another.  In a word, as disciples of Jesus they were merciful stewards of all God gave them.

As Christian stewards today we too believe in the risen Christ and we proclaim Him to the world. But it is not just by what we say, we also proclaim Christ by what we do. St. John tells us, They will know we are Christians by our love.”  Hear again the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.”

The life of a Christian disciple ought to be lived in love of others. Through your loving actions people will experience the living gospel in you. After all, that’s what Christ did; He lived for love of others — even to the point of death.

Like those early Christians who were eye witnesses to the death and resurrection of our Lord, we recognize that nothing we have is ours. It all comes to us by way of gift from our heavenly Father. Now it is our responsibility to cultivate and care for it. Our time, our talent, and our treasure are the ways we love our God and our neighbor. In so doing, we proclaim the Gospel of Love and Mercy that Jesus Christ himself preached in word and in letting water and blood flow from His side to redeem the whole world.