THE RESURRECTION OF AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER. YEAR B.
April 23, 2006.
(First reading: Acts 4: 32-35) (Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24)
(Second reading: 1 John 5:1-6) (Gospel: John 20:19-31)

THE RESURRECTION OF
AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

Let us first define what is an economic system. It is the organized manner in which a given society arranges and manages the production, distribution and consumption of goods in order to meet the needs of its members.

The fundamental purpose of a sound economic system is, then, to ensure that all human beings, without exception, participate in the production, distribution and consumption of all economic goods.

The fact that human poverty, misery and exploitation have remained unchecked and continue to spread throughout our world, is an indication that the world's economic systems have tragically failed to live up to their responsibility and purpose.

An economic system that fails to meet the needs of all human beings is a "dead" economic system and, therefore, in need of a resurrection.
The Book of the Acts of the Apostles (First reading) depicts an economic system which has truly risen from the dead. The following is that system: "No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common... There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceedings of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need"(Acts 4:32-35).

In economic terms, the above description given by the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, presents an economic system in which everyone is involved and everyone benefits from it. This is the only economic system that can fully serve the needs of humankind and lead to fullness of life.

Such an economic system does represent a radical departure from our unjust and decaying systems in which a small group of individuals accumulate the wealth in their hands while causing exploitation, dispossession, misery and death to the vast majorities of human beings.

The economic system embraced by the community of the first Christians is, therefore, a system that fully shares in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, because such system brings life for all humanity.

Those who do not believe that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus reaches all ways of societal life (the economic system being one of them) will be imitating Thomas (The one who did not believed that Jesus had risen from the dead).

May today's Christians and people of good-will strive at bringing back to life the economic system of the first Christians, so that the world may believe in the resurrection of a the only valid way to arrange and manage the production, distribution and consumption of the economic goods for the satisfaction of the needs of all human beings.