Daily Readings - Tue Apr 21 2020

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 describes the early Christian community’s remarkable unity and generosity. Believers shared all possessions, ensuring no one was in need. This selfless love was a testament to their faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, and it reflected the grace and power of God at work among them. The example of Barnabas, who sold his land to support the community, highlights the transformative power of living for others in response to God’s love. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being “born anew” by the Spirit. He explains that the Spirit works mysteriously, and spiritual rebirth is not about human effort but about surrendering to God’s grace. Jesus then connects this spiritual truth to his own mission, emphasizing that belief in him is essential for eternal life. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent to save the people, Jesus must be lifted up on the cross to save humanity. Together, these readings remind us that faith is not just about words or ideas but about living in a way that reflects God’s love and generosity. The early Christians showed that belief in the Resurrection leads to radical love and selflessness. Similarly, Jesus calls us to trust in him and his plan, even when it seems mysterious or difficult to understand. Let us ask for the grace to live with open hearts, trusting in God’s Spirit to guide us and transform us. May our lives reflect the love and generosity that flow from being born anew in Christ.