Daily Readings - Sun Apr 07 2024

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 need

1 John

Chapter 5

¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And everyone who loves God, who provides that birth, also loves him who has been born of God²In this way, we know that we love those born of God: when we love God and do his commandments³For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy⁴For all that is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God⁶This is the One who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies that the Christ is the Truth

John

Chapter 20

¹⁹Then, when it was late on the same day, on the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said to them: "Peace to you.²⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. And the disciples were gladdened when they saw the Lord²¹Therefore, he said to them again: "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.²²When he had said this, he breathed on them. And he said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit²³Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.²⁴Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus arrived²⁵Therefore, the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I will see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the place of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.²⁶And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus arrived, though the doors had been closed, and he stood in their midst and said, "Peace to you.²⁷Next, he said to Thomas: "Look at my hands, and place your finger here; and bring your hand close, and place it at my side. And do not choose to be unbelieving, but faithful.²⁸Thomas responded and said to him, "My Lord and my God.²⁹Jesus said to him: "You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.³⁰Jesus also accomplished many other signs in the sight of his disciples. These have not been written in this book³¹But these things have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, in believing, you may have life in his name

Sermon

The readings today remind us of the power of faith, love, and unity in the life of the Church. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in perfect harmony, sharing all things in common, and caring for one another’s needs. This unity was not accidental but flowed from their shared faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostles, filled with grace, testified to this truth, and the community responded with generosity and trust in God’s providence. This passage challenges us to reflect on how we live out our faith in our own communities—do we share what we have, or do we hold onto things selfishly? Do we trust in God’s plan for our lives and for the world? In the second reading from 1 John, we are reminded that love for God and love for others are inseparable. To love God is to keep His commandments, and to love those born of God is to love God Himself. John emphasizes that this love is not a burden but a source of strength. Faith in Jesus Christ, who came by water and blood, overcomes the world. This reading invites us to examine our own love for God and for others. Do we see love as a commandment to be obeyed, or as a gift that transforms us? Do we allow our faith to overcome the challenges and doubts we face in life? The Gospel from John brings us to the evening of Easter Sunday, where Jesus appears to His disciples and breathes the Holy Spirit upon them. This moment is the birth of the Church, and it is a reminder of the mission we have all received—to forgive sins and to spread the Good News. Thomas, who was not present that evening, represents our own struggles with doubt. Yet, when Jesus appears to him again, Thomas’s doubt turns to faith, and he confesses Jesus as “My Lord and my God.” Jesus blesses those who believe without seeing, and this is a blessing extended to us today. The readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God’s presence and love, even when we cannot see Him. Let us ask ourselves: Do we allow our faith to guide us in times of uncertainty? Do we live as people who have been transformed by the love and power of the Resurrection?