Daily Readings - Mon Apr 29 2019
Acts
23When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.24And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,25who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?26The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'--27for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
John
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."4Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Sermon
The first reading from Acts and the Gospel of John both invite us to reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit and the transformative nature of faith. In Acts, after being released from captivity, the early Christians gather to pray, seeking courage and strength to continue their mission despite threats and persecution. Their prayer is not one of fear or retreat but of boldness and trust in God’s plan. They recognize that the same Spirit who anointed Jesus is at work in them, enabling them to speak God’s word with confidence and to perform signs and wonders in His name. This passage reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not a passive presence but an active force that equips us to live out our faith with courage and purpose.
In the Gospel, Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus introduces the concept of being “born anew” by water and the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus struggles to understand how someone can be reborn physically, but Jesus shifts the focus to the spiritual rebirth that comes through the Spirit. This teaching emphasizes that our faith is not merely about outward observances but about an inner transformation that reorients our lives toward God. Just as the wind blows where it wills, the Spirit works in ways we cannot fully understand or control, but we can trust in its power to bring new life and direction to our lives.
These readings remind us that the Holy Spirit is both the source of our courage in the face of challenges and the agent of our spiritual rebirth. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when circumstances seem uncertain or difficult. Like the early Christians, we can pray for the Spirit’s boldness to witness to our faith and to serve others with compassion. And like Nicodemus, we are invited to embrace the mystery of spiritual rebirth, allowing the Spirit to inspire us, guide us, and transform us. May we open our hearts to the Spirit’s work, trusting that God’s power is always at work in us, even when we cannot see it.