Daily Readings - Tue Apr 10 2018

First Reading - Acts 4.32-37

³²Then the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. Neither did anyone say that any of the things that he possessed were his own, but all things were common to them³³And with great power, the Apostles were rendering testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. And great grace was in them all³⁴And neither was anyone among them in need. For as many as were owners of fields or houses, selling these, were bringing the proceeds of the things that they were selling³⁵and were placing it before the feet of the Apostles. Then it was divided to each one, just as he had need³⁶Now Joseph, who the Apostles surnamed Barnabas (which is translated as ‘son of consolation’), who was a Levite of Cyprian descent³⁷since he had land, he sold it, and he brought the proceeds and placed these at the feet of the Apostles

Gospel - John 3.7b-15

John

Chapter 3

⁷You should not be amazed that I said to you: You must be born anew⁸The Spirit inspires where he wills. And you hear his voice, but you do not know where he comes from, or where he is going. So it is with all who are born of the Spirit.⁹Nicodemus responded and said to him, "How are these things able to be accomplished?¹⁰Jesus responded and said to him: "You are a teacher in Israel, and you are ignorant of these things¹¹Amen, amen, I say to you, that we speak about what we know, and we testify about what we have seen. But you do not accept our testimony¹²If I have spoken to you about earthly things, and you have not believed, then how will you believe, if I will speak to you about heavenly things¹³And no one has ascended to heaven, except the one who descended from heaven: the Son of man who is in heaven¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so also must the Son of man be lifted up¹⁵so that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life

Sermon

The first reading from Acts paints a vivid picture of the early Christian community, where believers shared everything in common, living with one heart and one soul. This was not a communism born of ideology but a radical expression of faith and love. The Apostles testified to the Resurrection with great power, and the community was marked by generosity and care for one another. No one was in need because those who had resources sold their lands and placed the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles, who distributed them according to need. This passage highlights the transformative power of living as children of God, where possessions are seen as gifts to be shared for the common good. The Gospel reading from John continues the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee, about the mystery of being "born anew." Jesus explains that this rebirth is not physical but spiritual, a work of the Holy Spirit who moves freely. Just as the wind blows where it wills, so too does the Spirit inspire and transform. Jesus then connects this spiritual rebirth to the ultimate act of salvation: the Son of Man being "lifted up" like the bronze serpent in the desert, so that all who believe in him may have eternal life. This passage invites us to trust in God’s plan of salvation and to embrace the gift of new life offered through faith in Christ. These readings are deeply connected. The early Christian community in Acts is a living expression of what it means to be "born anew" and to live by the Spirit. Their radical generosity and unity were not just social experiments but fruits of their faith in the Risen Lord. For us today, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Are we willing to let go of our attachments and share our resources with others? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it seems mysterious or difficult to understand? The moral lesson is clear: true life comes from living as children of God, trusting in his love, and caring for one another as he cares for us. Let us ask for the grace to be born anew and to live in a way that reflects the transformative power of the Spirit.