Daily Readings - Tue Apr 18 2023
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 offer us a powerful reflection on unity, generosity, and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in remarkable harmony and generosity. The believers shared everything they had, ensuring that no one was in need. This was not just a practical arrangement but a spiritual one, rooted in their deep trust in God and their commitment to living as followers of Christ. The text highlights Joseph, known as Barnabas, who sold his land and placed the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles, embodying the selfless love and unity of the community.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Jesus explains that just as the Spirit moves freely, so too must our lives be open to the Spirit's work within us. He uses the image of the bronze serpent lifted up in the desert—a foreshadowing of his own crucifixion—to illustrate how belief in him leads to eternal life. This passage reminds us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a radical trust in God's plan, even when it surpasses our understanding.
These readings are deeply connected. The unity and generosity of the early Christian community in Acts are the fruit of the Spirit at work in their lives, the same Spirit Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. To be "born anew" means living in such a way that our lives reflect God's love and generosity. Today, we are called to trust in God's plan, to be open to the Spirit's movement, and to live with the same selfless love and unity that defined the early Church. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to let go of our attachments and trust in God's providence? Are we living in a way that reflects the transformative power of the Spirit? May we strive to be communities of love, generosity, and faith, bearing witness to the eternal life offered through Christ.