My Beloved the benevolent                        June 2026

Grace and peace, wishing you every goodness and blessings

On Sunday, May 31, we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. The Lord Christ promised His disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit, saying: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8. This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:1-4.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of fellowship and the mystery of the Church’s unity. The Holy Bible describes the coming of the Holy Spirit by saying, “They were all with one accord in one place.” Acts 2:1.

It also describes the life of the early Church in the apostolic age: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” Acts 4:32.

+ Saint Paul the Apostle writes to the Corinthians about the mystery of the unity of the Church, especially when divisions and factions had arisen among them, saying: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13.

Baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In baptism, the Holy Spirit grants us the new birth and makes us members of the Body of Christ. A person’s condition before baptism—whether Jew or Greek, slave or free—does not affect membership in the Body of Christ, for all are one in Christ. We also receive the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of the Holy Myron to guide us in the spiritual life. Thus, the Holy Spirit—the one Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God—makes our spiritual life one life in Christ.

+ The Holy Spirit makes us one in Christ, yet the Holy Spirit does not abolish the diversity among the members of the one body. Saint Paul the Apostle explained diversity within unity through the example of the body: the body is one, yet its members are diverse—the hand, the foot, the eye, the ear, and so on. “For in fact the body is not one member but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14. “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:18–20.

+ Diversity is important for the body, but diversity may lead to division. Therefore, diversity should become a source of richness for the body and not a cause for its division. Saint Paul said: “That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” 1 Corinthians 12:25–27.

+ The early Church in the apostolic age presents to us a model of diversity with unity. The Church was rich in the spiritual gifts granted by the Holy Spirit, yet these gifts were diverse: “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28.

There were also rich members and poor members among the Church: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” Acts 2:44–45.

The Holy Spirit guided the rich to care for their needy brothers and sisters: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” Acts 4:32. “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.” Acts 4:34–35. It was not required of the rich to sell their lands or houses and bring the proceeds to the fathers, the apostles. It was a voluntary act prompted by the Holy Spirit.

In the story of Ananias and Sapphira his wife, he sold a possession and kept back part of the proceeds, with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Saint Peter rebuked him, saying: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:3–4.

It was not required of Ananias to sell his field, nor was he required to bring the price of the field to the apostles. The Church did not abolish private ownership or impose a financial system. Rather, the Holy Spirit grants the rich a heart that feels the pain and need of the poor, but this must be done with a pure heart.

Ananias and Sapphira did not do this with a pure heart; therefore, they deserved divine punishment. But Saint Barnabas presents to us a good example to follow: “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:36–37.

We pray that God may grant us His Holy Spirit to move the hearts of those who have this world’s goods (1 John 3:17), so that they may care for those in need. May the Lord bless your offerings to support Santa Verena Charity’s programs.

Metropolitan Serapion