Daily Readings - Tue Apr 09 2024
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 the nature of community, generosity, and the transformative power of God’s love. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in remarkable unity and generosity. They shared all their possessions, ensuring that no one was in need, and they placed their trust in the apostles to distribute resources according to the needs of each member. This passage paints a vivid picture of a community transformed by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, living not just as individuals but as a family united in faith and love.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the mystery of being “born anew” by the Spirit. Jesus explains that just as the wind blows where it wills, so too does the Spirit work in ways that are beyond human understanding. This exchange highlights the profound truth that spiritual rebirth is not something we can control or fully comprehend; it is a gift from God. Jesus then connects this mystery to the ultimate expression of God’s love: the Son of Man being “lifted up” for the salvation of the world, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert to heal the people.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about individual belief but about living in communion with others. The early Christians in Acts showed us that when we surrender our lives and resources to God’s will, we become instruments of his grace and love. Similarly, Jesus’ words to Nicodemus call us to trust in the mysterious work of the Spirit and to embrace the transformative power of God’s love. Let us strive to live with the same generosity and unity as the early Christians, and let us open our hearts to the Spirit’s movement in our lives. May we, like the Son of Man, be lifted up in love and service to others, that all may have eternal life.