Daily Readings - Tue Apr 29 2025
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 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.