Daily Readings - Tue Apr 13 2021
Acts
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.36Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,37sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
John
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."9Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"10Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Sermon
The first reading from Acts describes the early Christian community, where believers shared everything in common, living with unity and generosity. This was not a communism forced by rule, but a free and joyful sharing inspired by their faith in the Resurrection of Jesus. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, testified to the power of Christ, and the community ensured that no one was in need. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, exemplifies this spirit of selflessness by selling his land and giving the proceeds to the Apostles to support the community. This passage highlights the transformative power of faith and the call to live as one family in Christ.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Just as the Spirit moves freely, so too must our hearts be open to God’s grace. Jesus uses the image of the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses in the desert—a prefiguration of his own crucifixion—to illustrate how salvation comes through faith in him. The passage emphasizes that faith is not about understanding everything but trusting in God’s love and plan. Jesus’ words challenge Nicodemus, and us, to move beyond earthly thinking and embrace the heavenly reality of God’s love.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we live out our faith. The early Christians in Acts show us that living as followers of Christ means sharing our lives and resources with others. The Gospel reminds us that this way of life is only possible when we are spiritually reborn, open to the Holy Spirit, and willing to trust in God’s plan. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate this selfless love and generosity, to trust in God’s providence, and to live as a community united in faith. Let us ask the Spirit to inspire us to live with such freedom and joy, that we might be witnesses to the power of Christ’s love in the world.