The book “The Example of the First Christians,” published in 2023 by the University of Navarra, examines the early followers of Jesus of Nazareth, whose lives continue to inspire and resonate with Catholics of all times, including today.
The book’s author, Gabriel Larrauri, explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that although people and circumstances change over the centuries, those who trusted in the words of Jesus and in the transmission of his message through the apostles “experienced a situation similar to the current one, and they faced its risks with complete naturalness.”
Larrauri summarizes five hallmarks of early Christian living that continue to be applicable to Christ’s followers today.
1. Total commitment
For the author, the first followers of the Gospel message “are proof of how the world can be transformed.”
They were “normal people who knew how to be heroic, men and women who in their ordinary lives achieved extraordinary things and left a profound mark on the history of humanity.”
2. Coherence and courage
For Larrauri, those who formed the first communities of followers of Christ “are like lights that come from afar and that illuminate us today.” Specifically, “considering their fidelity and their courage can help us a lot.”
The author pointed to “their example of transforming the world from within, without living apart, shutting themselves off or evading the daily reality of the society in which they lived.”
Just like today in some contexts, the first Christians were few in number, lacked human wherewithal and didn’t have, at least for a long time, great thinkers or important public figures, Larrauri explained.
Coherence and courage are the key to understanding how “they were not intimidated” in the midst of a social environment marked by “indifferentism” and a lack of values, “similar in many ways to what we are facing now.”
3. Countercultural
The third quality the first Christians had that Larrauri highlighted is the ability to face persecution. “The Church upholds a lifestyle that must be lived against the tide,” which is why “being a Christian today can be described as risky.”
In fact, according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Christianity “is the most persecuted religion in the world,” Larrauri noted, and so “having the first Christians to look to helps us face these circumstances.”
Knowing their example, “even going so far as to give their lives to remain steadfast in their faith, can fill us with strength,” the author pointed out.
4. The Eucharist
From the beginning, the celebration of the Eucharist “played a central role” in the life of the first Christians. “It is wonderful to see the faith and love with which the first Christians treated Jesus in the Eucharistic bread,” Larrauri noted, adding that “it is moving to see how we continue to celebrate the same Mass that was celebrated in the first century.”
5. Loving others
In addition to all this, there was the mutual love, brotherhood, and care they had for each other. For Larrauri, “perhaps the greatest characteristic of the life of the first Christians was how they knew how to love one another. This was to be the sign by which the pagans would recognize them.”
Loving one another as Jesus Christ did “is the legacy they have left us and what we must transmit. It’s not just about philanthropy or humanitarianism: They are willing — as Tertullian said — to give their lives for others,” Larrauri explained.
By NicolƔs de CƔrdenas
ACI Prensa Staff
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Original:
El ejemplo de los primeros cristianos, es un libro sobre los seguidores pioneros de JesĆŗs de Nazaret, cuya vida ilumina a los catĆ³licos de todo tiempo, incluidos los contemporĆ”neos.
El autor del trabajo, Gabriel Larrauri, explica que aunque las personas y circunstancias cambia a lo largo de los siglos, aquellos que confiaron en las palabras de JesĆŗs y en la transmisiĆ³n de su mensaje a travĆ©s de los ApĆ³stoles, “vivieron una situaciĆ³n parecida a la actual y afrontaron con toda naturalidad sus riesgos”.
Larrauri resume para ACI Prensa cinco actitudes que, aunque originales en la experiencia de las primeras comunidades cristianas, siguen de plena actualidad para los catĆ³licos y que pueden encontrarse en el volumen editado en 2023 por la Universidad de Navarra.
1. Ejemplo de entrega
Para el autor, los primeros seguidores del mensaje evangĆ©lico “son la prueba de cĆ³mo se puede transformar el mundo”.
Ellos fueron “gente normal que supo ser heroica, hombres y mujeres que con su vida ordinaria consiguieron cosas extraordinarias y que han dejado una huella profunda en la historia de la humanidad”.
2. Coherencia y valentĆa
Para Larrauri, quienes formaron las primeras comunidades de seguidores de Cristo “son como luces que vienen de lejos y que nos iluminan hoy”. En concreto, “considerar su coherencia, su valentĆa, puede ayudarnos mucho”.
El autor subraya “su ejemplo para transformar el mundo desde dentro, sin aislarse, autoexcluirse o evadirse de la realidad diaria de la sociedad en la que viven”.
Al igual que hoy en algunos contextos, los primeros cristianos eran pocos, carecĆan de medios humanos y no contaban, al menos durante un largo tiempo, con grandes pensadores o personas de relevancia pĆŗblica, explica el autor del libro.
La coherencia y la valentĆa son la clave para comprender cĆ³mo “no se amedrentaron” en medio de un ambiente social marcado por el “indeferentismo” y la carencia de valores, “semejante en muchos aspectos al que nos toca ahora afrontar”.
3. Vivir a contracorriente
La tercera actitud de los primeros cristianos que destaca Larrauri es la capacidad de afrontar las persecuciones. “La Iglesia defiende un estilo de vida que es preciso vivir a contracorriente”, por lo que “ser cristiano hoy puede calificarse de arriesgado”.
No en vano, segĆŗn Ayuda a la Iglesia Necesitada (ACN, por sus siglas en inglĆ©s) el cristianismo “es la religiĆ³n mĆ”s perseguida del mundo”, recuerda Larrauri. Por ello “tener la referencia de los primeros cristianos nos ayuda a afrontar esas circunstancias”.
Conocer su ejemplo, “llegando incluso a entregar su vida por mantenerse firmes a su fe, nos puede llenar de fortaleza a la vez que nos mueve a procurar defender la libertad de esas personas”, incide el autor.
4. La EucaristĆa
Desde el principio, la celebraciĆ³n de la EucaristĆa “tuvo un papel central” en la vida de los grupos iniciales de cristianos. “Maravilla ver la fe y el cariƱo con el que los primeros cristianos tratan a JesĆŗs en el Pan eucarĆstico”, seƱala Larrauri.
Por otro lado, el escritor destaca que “emociona comprobar cĆ³mo seguimos celebrando la misma Misa que se celebraba en el siglo I”.
5. Amar a los demƔs
A ello se suman el amor mutuo, la fraternidad y el cuidado de los unos por los otros. Para Larrauri “quizĆ” la nota mĆ”s caracterĆstica de la vida de los primeros cristianos era cĆ³mo sabĆan quererse entre sĆ. Esta serĆ” la seƱal por la que serĆ”n reconocidos por los paganos”.
Amarse los unos a los otros como hizo Jesucristo “es la herencia que nos han dejado y la que nosotros debemos transmitir. No se trata de filantropĆa o humanitarismo sin mĆ”s: estĆ”n dispuestos -como dice Tertuliano- a dar la vida por los demĆ”s”, explica el autor de “El ejemplo de los primeros cristianos”.
Publicada originalmente el 8 de marzo de 2023.