Daily Readings - Mon Apr 17 2023
Acts
23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. '27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
John
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.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."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound moments of faith and transformation. The first reading from Acts 4:23-31 depicts the early Christian community praying for courage and strength after facing threats from religious leaders. They acknowledge God's sovereignty and ask for boldness to continue their mission, trusting in His plan. The second reading, John 3:1-8, introduces Nicodemus, a Pharisee who visits Jesus secretly. Jesus teaches him about being born again through water and the Spirit, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual rebirth to enter the Kingdom of God.
The context of these readings is pivotal. The early Christians in Acts are united in prayer amidst persecution, reflecting the resilience of the fledgling church. Nicodemus, a respected leader, seeks Jesus under the cover of night, indicating his curiosity and perhaps fear of judgment. Both scenarios highlight the challenges of living out one's faith, whether through overt persecution or internal doubt.
These readings intertwine through themes of courage and transformation. The early Christians' prayer for boldness mirrors Jesus' call to Nicodemus for spiritual rebirth. Both emphasize trust in God's plan and openness to the Holy Spirit. Applying this to our lives, we are reminded to face challenges with faith, seeking strength through prayer and remaining open to spiritual growth.
The moral lesson here is the importance of prayer and spiritual transformation. Like the early church, we can find courage in prayer, trusting God's plan. And like Nicodemus, we must embrace the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, allowing ourselves to be transformed and reborn. This spiritual journey enables us to see and enter the Kingdom of God, living with renewed purpose and faith.