Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
(Acts 11:19-26; John 22:30)
Today’s first reading tells of two related milestones. For
the first time not only Jews but also non-Jewish Greek speakers were joining
Christ’s community. Also, the community was
given the name of “Christian” or, at least its members were called “Christians.”
For the initial years after Jesus’ resurrection, only Jews belonged
to the Church. The Church was a sect of
Judaism – Jews who believed that the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus of
Nazareth. In Antioch, evidently for the
first time, non-Jewish Greeks became Church members. As a result, the community could no longer be
considered a Jewish sect. Its members had
to recognize the fact and call themselves “Christians,” that is, followers of
Christ.
We are proud to be called “Christians.” Jesus Christ, because
he had a divine as well as human nature, lived human ideals to the full. He modeled to the full truth, goodness, and
love. With the grace that he gives us, we
can do something similar.
