Daily Readings - Tue Apr 10 2018
Acts
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
John
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but 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 with one heart and one soul. This was not a communism born of ideology but a radical expression of faith and love. The Apostles testified to the Resurrection with great power, and the community was marked by generosity and care for one another. No one was in need because those who had resources sold their lands and placed the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles, who distributed them according to need. This passage highlights the transformative power of living as children of God, where possessions are seen as gifts to be shared for the common good.
The Gospel reading from John continues the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee, about the mystery of being "born anew." Jesus explains that this rebirth is not physical but spiritual, a work of the Holy Spirit who moves freely. Just as the wind blows where it wills, so too does the Spirit inspire and transform. Jesus then connects this spiritual rebirth to the ultimate act of salvation: the Son of Man being "lifted up" like the bronze serpent in the desert, so that all who believe in him may have eternal life. This passage invites us to trust in God’s plan of salvation and to embrace the gift of new life offered through faith in Christ.
These readings are deeply connected. The early Christian community in Acts is a living expression of what it means to be "born anew" and to live by the Spirit. Their radical generosity and unity were not just social experiments but fruits of their faith in the Risen Lord. For us today, these readings challenge us to examine how we live out our faith. Are we willing to let go of our attachments and share our resources with others? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it seems mysterious or difficult to understand? The moral lesson is clear: true life comes from living as children of God, trusting in his love, and caring for one another as he cares for us. Let us ask for the grace to be born anew and to live in a way that reflects the transformative power of the Spirit.