The hearts and minds of all believers were one

From a treatise on the psalms
by
Saint Hilary of Poitiers
[c.300 – 368 A.D. ]

Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity! It is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell in unity, because when they do so their association creates the assembly of the Church. The term “brothers” describes the bond of affection arising from their singleness of purpose.
We read that when the apostles first preached, the chief instruction they gave lay in this saying: The hearts and minds of all believers were one. So it is fitting for the people of God to be brothers under one Father, to be united under one Spirit, to live in harmony under one roof, to be limbs of one body.
It is pleasant and good for brothers to dwell in unity. The prophet suggested a comparison for this good and pleasant activity when he said: It is like the ointment on the head which ran down over the beard of Aaron, down upon the collar of his garment. Aaron’s oil was made of the perfumes used to anoint a priest. It was God’s decision that his priest should have his consecration first, and that our Lord should be so anointed, but not visibly, by those who are joined with him. Aaron’s anointing did not belong to this world; it was not done with the horn used for kings, but with the oil of gladness. So afterward Aaron was called the anointed one as the Law proscribed.
When this oil is poured out upon men of unclean heart, it snuffs out their lives, but when it is received as an anointing of love, it exudes the sweet odour of harmony with God. As Paul says, we are the goodly fragrance of Christ. So just as it was pleasing to God when Aaron was anointed priest with this oil, so it is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell in unity.
Now the oil ran down from his head to his beard. A beard adorns a man of mature years. We must not be children before Christ except in the restricted scriptural sense of being children in wickedness but not in our way of thinking. Now Paul calls all who lack faith, children, because they are too weak to take solid food and still need milk. As he says: I fed you with milk rather than the solid food for which you were not yet ready; and you are still not ready.

Reflection

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JESUS RESTORES FAMILIES

“Go home to your family and make it clear to them how much the Lord in His mercy has done for you.” —Mark 5:19

David’s family was a disaster. His son Absalom became his rival, overthrew his government, and was seeking his father’s life (2 Sm 15:1ff; 17:3). Instead of seeking a reconciliation with Absalom, David fled. He had no doubt that Absalom was deadly serious about defeating him (2 Sm 15:14).
David believed the worst of his son. Many of you have likewise experienced serious family ruptures. Like David, when you hear that a certain family member is set against you, immediately you believe the worst about that family member and act upon that belief.
Jesus bluntly stated that He came to divide families (Lk 12:51-53). When Jesus delivered the Gerasene demoniac, this man pressed Jesus to accompany Him (Mk 5:18). Far too many of us can relate; the spiritual warfare of accompanying Jesus on deliverance ministry is preferable to the ridicule and rejection you expect to receive from your family if you told them all that Jesus has mercifully done for you.
However, Jesus sent the delivered man straight home to his family to announce God’s mercy (Mk 5:19). He might be calling you to do the same. May Jesus use your conversion, prayers, obedience, words, and witness to heal and restore your family.

Prayer: Father, use my fasting, obedience, and prayer to restore any ruined areas in my family (Is 58:12). May I love my family with Your heart of love.
Promise: “When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side.” —Ps 3:6-7
Praise: St. Ansgar evangelized Scandinavia and was instrumental in converting the King of Sweden to Christianity.