Daily Readings - Tue Apr 29 2025
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 first reading from Acts paints a vivid picture of the early Christian community, where believers shared everything in common, living in unity and generosity. This was not a community of mere acquaintances but one bound together by a deep faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostles, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, testified to this truth, and the believers, in turn, lived out their faith by ensuring that no one among them was in need. This radical way of life was a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, as seen in the example of Barnabas, who sold his land and entrusted the proceeds to the Apostles for the benefit of all.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Just as the wind blows where it wills, so too does the Spirit work mysteriously in the hearts of those who are open to God’s grace. Jesus emphasizes that spiritual rebirth is not about physical descent or human understanding but about surrendering to the movement of the Spirit. He then connects this truth to his own mission, likening himself to the serpent Moses lifted up in the desert—a symbol of salvation for all who believe. Jesus’ words challenge Nicodemus, and us, to move beyond earthly thinking and to embrace the heavenly realities revealed by God.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely an individual act but a communal way of life. The early Christians in Acts showed that living in unity and generosity is a practical expression of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Similarly, Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus calls us to open our hearts to the Spirit’s work within us. In our daily lives, we are invited to imitate the early Church by sharing our resources and our lives with others, trusting that God will provide for all our needs. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to renew us, to make us instruments of unity and generosity, and to deepen our faith in the eternal life that Jesus offers.