Christ is Risen!
The Sad story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)
Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and promised to give the entire amount of the sale to the Church but secretly withheld a portion of the proceeds. Their actions were not sinful because they kept part of the money, since it was theirs to do with as they pleased. The sin lay in their dishonesty and their attempt to deceive the apostles and the early Christian community into thinking they were more generous than they truly were.
The very foundation of the Early Church, based upon our Saviour’s example and led by the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Truth), thrived on honesty, mutual trust, and transparency. The integrity of the Church and its followers was paramount. Therefore, Ananias and Sapphira’s actions threatened that foundation, which is why they both dropped dead when they lied about the price of the property they sold.
The story of Ananias and Sapphira is a sad reminder that pride and greed not only bear bitter fruit but are detrimental to one’s spiritual and physical health as well.
Fr. John
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