Daily Readings - Tue Apr 09 2024
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 the nature of community, generosity, and the transformative power of God’s love. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in remarkable unity and generosity. They shared all their possessions, ensuring that no one was in need, and they placed their trust in the apostles to distribute resources according to the needs of each member. This passage paints a vivid picture of a community transformed by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, living not just as individuals but as a family united in faith and love.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the mystery of being “born anew” by the Spirit. Jesus explains that just as the wind blows where it wills, so too does the Spirit work in ways that are beyond human understanding. This exchange highlights the profound truth that spiritual rebirth is not something we can control or fully comprehend; it is a gift from God. Jesus then connects this mystery to the ultimate expression of God’s love: the Son of Man being “lifted up” for the salvation of the world, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert to heal the people.
These readings remind us that our faith is not just about individual belief but about living in communion with others. The early Christians in Acts showed us that when we surrender our lives and resources to God’s will, we become instruments of his grace and love. Similarly, Jesus’ words to Nicodemus call us to trust in the mysterious work of the Spirit and to embrace the transformative power of God’s love. Let us strive to live with the same generosity and unity as the early Christians, and let us open our hearts to the Spirit’s movement in our lives. May we, like the Son of Man, be lifted up in love and service to others, that all may have eternal life.