Daily Readings - Mon Apr 28 2025
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 readings today invite us to reflect on the power of faith, prayer, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community responding to persecution with unity and trust in God. After being released from imprisonment, the apostles gather with their fellow believers and pray for courage and strength. Their prayer is not one of fear or retreat but of boldness and confidence in God’s plan. They acknowledge God as the creator of all things and recall how He has always been faithful, even in the face of opposition. Their prayer is answered with a tangible outpouring of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to continue their mission.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jews, about the necessity of being "born anew" through water and the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus struggles to understand how this is possible, thinking in literal terms, but Jesus explains that this is a spiritual rebirth. Just as the wind blows where it wills, the Spirit works mysteriously, bringing new life to those who are open to it. This conversation highlights the profound truth that our relationship with God is not just about outward observance but about an inner transformation that only the Spirit can bring.
These readings remind us that our faith is not a solo journey but one that is deeply connected to the community and to the work of the Holy Spirit. Like the early Christians, we are called to face challenges with courage and to trust in God’s providence. Like Nicodemus, we are invited to move beyond our limited understanding and to embrace the mystery of God’s grace. May we, too, be filled with the Holy Spirit, that we might live with confidence, speak with boldness, and be open to the new life God desires to bring forth in us.