Daily Readings - Tue Apr 26 2022
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 readings today invite us to reflect on the transformative power of faith and the call to live as a community united in love and generosity. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in profound unity and sharing all their possessions. This was not a communism born of necessity but a radical expression of their faith in the Risen Christ. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, testified to the Resurrection with great power, and the believers, inspired by their example, lived with open hearts and hands. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, exemplifies this generosity by selling his land and placing the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles, ensuring that no one among them was in need. This passage reminds us that true faith cannot exist in isolation; it must be lived out in community and in selfless service to others.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the mystery of being "born anew" through the Spirit. Just as the wind blows where it wills, the Spirit works in ways beyond our understanding, bringing new life to those who open their hearts to it. Jesus emphasizes that this spiritual rebirth is not merely an intellectual understanding but a profound transformation that allows us to see and experience the heavenly things God has in store for us. The exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus also highlights the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when it surpasses human comprehension. The reference to the bronze serpent lifted by Moses in the desert points to the ultimate act of salvation: the lifting up of the Son of Man on the cross, through which eternal life is offered to all who believe.
These readings are deeply connected. The early Christian community in Acts was only able to live in such radical unity and generosity because they had been transformed by the Spirit, born anew through their encounter with the Risen Christ. Their way of life was a living testament to the power of the Gospel. For us today, these readings call us to examine our own lives. Are we living as people transformed by the Spirit, or are we still clinging to our old ways of thinking and being? Do we trust in God’s plan enough to let go of our attachments and live with open hearts and hands? The moral lesson is clear: faith in Christ is not merely a private affair but a call to live in communion with others, sharing our resources and our lives in love. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to renew us, to inspire us to live with the same generosity and unity as the early Church, and to trust in the heavenly things God promises.