Daily Readings - Tue Apr 26 2022
Acts
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
John
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 readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of faith and the call to live as a community united in love and generosity. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in profound unity and sharing all their possessions. This was not a communism born of necessity but a radical expression of their faith in the Risen Christ. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, testified to the Resurrection with great power, and the believers, inspired by their example, lived with open hearts and hands. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, exemplifies this generosity by selling his land and placing the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles, ensuring that no one among them was in need. This passage reminds us that true faith cannot exist in isolation; it must be lived out in community and in selfless service to others.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the mystery of being "born anew" through the Spirit. Just as the wind blows where it wills, the Spirit works in ways beyond our understanding, bringing new life to those who open their hearts to it. Jesus emphasizes that this spiritual rebirth is not merely an intellectual understanding but a profound transformation that allows us to see and experience the heavenly things God has in store for us. The exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus also highlights the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when it surpasses human comprehension. The reference to the bronze serpent lifted by Moses in the desert points to the ultimate act of salvation: the lifting up of the Son of Man on the cross, through which eternal life is offered to all who believe.
These readings are deeply connected. The early Christian community in Acts was only able to live in such radical unity and generosity because they had been transformed by the Spirit, born anew through their encounter with the Risen Christ. Their way of life was a living testament to the power of the Gospel. For us today, these readings call us to examine our own lives. Are we living as people transformed by the Spirit, or are we still clinging to our old ways of thinking and being? Do we trust in God’s plan enough to let go of our attachments and live with open hearts and hands? The moral lesson is clear: faith in Christ is not merely a private affair but a call to live in communion with others, sharing our resources and our lives in love. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to renew us, to inspire us to live with the same generosity and unity as the early Church, and to trust in the heavenly things God promises.