Daily Readings - Tue Apr 18 2023
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 offer us a powerful reflection on unity, generosity, and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in remarkable harmony and generosity. The believers shared everything they had, ensuring that no one was in need. This was not just a practical arrangement but a spiritual one, rooted in their deep trust in God and their commitment to living as followers of Christ. The text highlights Joseph, known as Barnabas, who sold his land and placed the proceeds at the feet of the Apostles, embodying the selfless love and unity of the community.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Jesus explains that just as the Spirit moves freely, so too must our lives be open to the Spirit's work within us. He uses the image of the bronze serpent lifted up in the desert—a foreshadowing of his own crucifixion—to illustrate how belief in him leads to eternal life. This passage reminds us that faith is not merely intellectual assent but a radical trust in God's plan, even when it surpasses our understanding.
These readings are deeply connected. The unity and generosity of the early Christian community in Acts are the fruit of the Spirit at work in their lives, the same Spirit Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. To be "born anew" means living in such a way that our lives reflect God's love and generosity. Today, we are called to trust in God's plan, to be open to the Spirit's movement, and to live with the same selfless love and unity that defined the early Church. Let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to let go of our attachments and trust in God's providence? Are we living in a way that reflects the transformative power of the Spirit? May we strive to be communities of love, generosity, and faith, bearing witness to the eternal life offered through Christ.