Daily Readings - Tue Apr 30 2019
Acts
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
John
7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man.14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15that everyone who believes in him may 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 harmony, sharing their possessions, and ensuring that no one was in need. This was not a communism born of obligation but a radical expression of their faith in the Risen Christ. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, bore witness to the Resurrection, and the people, in turn, bore witness to their faith through their actions. This passage reminds us that true faith is not just about words but about how we live and share the blessings we have received.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Jesus emphasizes that the Spirit moves freely and mysteriously, and those who are born of the Spirit will reflect this in their lives. He then lifts Nicodemus' gaze to heaven, pointing to himself as the Son of Man who must be "lifted up" for the salvation of the world. This exchange challenges us to move beyond superficial understanding and to embrace the profound truth of God's love revealed in Jesus Christ. Just as the serpent was lifted up in the desert to bring healing, so too is Jesus lifted up on the cross to bring eternal life to all who believe.
These readings are deeply connected. The early Christian community in Acts was able to live with such radical generosity because they had been born anew by the Spirit and had accepted the testimony of Jesus. Their unity and selflessness were not just human efforts but the fruit of the Spirit working in them. For us today, the readings call us to examine how we are living out our faith. Are we allowing the Spirit to move freely in our lives? Are we sharing the blessings we have received with those in need? Let us ask for the grace to be born anew and to live in such a way that our actions bear witness to the love and truth of the Gospel.