Daily Readings - Mon Apr 29 2019
Acts
23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
John
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.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.
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.