Socialism and communism

Today’s first reading (Acts 4:32-37) present us with a view of the early Church that, in part, sounds like a commune straight out of Karl Marx.

There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

But the early Church was not primarily an economic entity of philosophy: it was first and last a “community of believers... of one heart and mind” – united in and for God.

Materialistic sharing was not the focus: Christ was.

On the other hand, materialistic sharing is precisely the focus of socialism and communism. Capitalism, for its part, also has a materialistic focus.

Materialism will always fail, because material things fail and also because material things can never really satisfy us.

As Saint Augustine once wrote:

For Thou hast made us for Thyself
and restless is our heart
until it comes to rest in Thee.

In good times or in bad, whether we are sharing or building, may our focus always be on Christ.