“Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
– Acts 2:443-45 NRSV
“She made it for you,” she said as two young people made their way to me after the church meeting in the fellowship hall. Blue glitter floated in the air as this beautiful gift was passed from artist to recipient. It was a moment that came right after the space had been filled with the familiar words of the Lord’s Prayer, as the adults in the room had closed their meeting together, hand in hand. I had asked the adults to please pray for God’s will, as we anticipated coming back together in a few weeks to continue our work and remember John Wesley’s General Rules, to do no harm, to do good, and to stay in love with God (with a nod to Bp. Reuben Job for his contemporary language).
And then, this young cherub showed up with her friend and presented this glitter-filled creation. Abundant. Extravagant. Generosity. Love at its very best.
In Acts 2, we are told 3,000 folks respond to Peter’s invitation to repent and be baptized. 3,000 “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” [2:42]. Three thousand are awed by the wonders and signs being done by the apostles. And then, Luke tells us, “they were together and had all things in common.” Clarence Jordan translates it this way: “The whole company of believers stuck together and held all things in common” (The Cotton Patch Version of Luke and Acts, 95). Just like the glue holding all that glitter spread across the Easter artwork.
The multicolored cotton balls, large and small, some squished together, others on their own, a couple of small groups here and a couple there, represent our own human networks of community. Eggs and chicks and rabbits on the periphery, with messages of Happy Easter serving as a reminder of the current season. All touched by that blue glitter that you just can’t get away from. So much glitter, holding all things in common.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in his book Life Together: “Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ” (21).
Miriam’s art speaks of this vital truth, as her effective use of all that blue glitter reminds us of how we are connected to one another and how we belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.
Happy Eastertide, friends!
David
Photo Credit: Miriam Villegas, Artist