Daily Readings - Sun Apr 11 2021

³²Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.³³And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.³⁴There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold³⁵and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

1 John

Chapter 5

¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.⁴For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.⁵Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?⁶This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

John

Chapter 20

¹⁹On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."²⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.²¹Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.²³If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld."²⁴Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.²⁵So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."²⁶Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."²⁸Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"²⁹Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;³¹but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the unity of faith, the power of love, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in harmony, sharing their possessions, and caring for one another. This was not just a social experiment but a spiritual reality rooted in their shared faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, testified to the power of God’s love, and the community responded with generosity and trust. This passage reminds us that true unity comes from living as one in Christ, where love transcends individualism and materialism. The second reading from 1 John deepens this theme by emphasizing that love is not just a feeling but a commitment to living according to God’s commandments. John writes that faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God overcomes the world. This victory is not through power or might but through the humble, selfless love that flows from God. The reading reminds us that our faith is not just intellectual assent but a way of life that reflects God’s love in the world. When we keep God’s commandments, we demonstrate that we are born of God and that His love dwells in us. In the Gospel, Jesus appears to His disciples after the Resurrection, offering them peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This scene is both a moment of reassurance and a call to mission. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the disciples, empowering them to forgive sins and to continue His work in the world. The story of Thomas, who doubts until he sees and touches Jesus’ wounds, reminds us that faith often requires us to move beyond our fears and uncertainties. Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” challenge us to trust in God’s presence even when we cannot see or fully understand. These readings together call us to live as people of faith and love. Like the early Christian community, we are to share our resources and care for one another. Like the disciples, we are to receive the Holy Spirit and be bold in witnessing to the Resurrection. And like Thomas, we are to move beyond doubt to a deeper trust in God’s plan. Let us ask for the grace to live in unity, to love without condition, and to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us. May we, like the disciples, be transformed by the Risen Christ and bear witness to His love in the world.