Daily Readings - Mon Apr 28 2025
Acts
23Then, having been released, they went to their own, and they reported in full what the leaders of the priests and the elders had said to them24And when they had heard it, with one accord, they lifted up their voice to God, and they said: "Lord, you are the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them25who, by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said: ‘Why have the Gentiles been seething, and why have the people been pondering nonsense26The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, against the Lord and against his Christ.27For truly Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, joined together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointe28to do what your hand and your counsel had decreed would be done29And now, O Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants that they may speak your word with all confidence30by extending your hand in cures and signs and miracles, to be done through the name of your holy Son, Jesus.31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was moved. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they were speaking the Word of God with confidence
John
1Now there was a man among the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews2He went to Jesus at night, and he said to him: "Rabbi, we know that you have arrived as a teacher from God. For no one would be able to accomplish these signs, which you accomplish, unless God were with him.3Jesus responded and said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.4Nicodemus said to him: "How could a man be born when he is old? Surely, he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be reborn?5Jesus responded: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit7You 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.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, prayer, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community responding to persecution with unity and trust in God. After being released from imprisonment, the apostles gather with their fellow believers and pray for courage and strength. Their prayer is not one of fear or retreat but of boldness and confidence in God’s plan. They acknowledge God as the creator of all things and recall how He has always been faithful, even in the face of opposition. Their prayer is answered with a tangible outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to continue their mission.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jews, about the necessity of being "born anew" through water and the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus struggles to understand how this is possible, thinking in literal terms, but Jesus explains that this is a spiritual rebirth. Just as the wind blows where it wills, the Spirit works mysteriously, bringing new life to those who are open to it. This conversation highlights the profound truth that our relationship with God is not just about outward observance but about an inner transformation that only the Spirit can bring.
These readings remind us that our faith is not a solo journey but one that is deeply connected to the community and to the work of the Holy Spirit. Like the early Christians, we are called to face challenges with courage and to trust in God’s providence. Like Nicodemus, we are invited to move beyond our limited understanding and to embrace the mystery of God’s grace. May we, too, be filled with the Holy Spirit, that we might live with confidence, speak with boldness, and be open to the new life God desires to bring forth in us.