Daily Readings - Tue Apr 29 2025
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 first reading from Acts paints a vivid picture of the early Christian community, where believers shared everything in common, living in unity and generosity. This was not a community of mere acquaintances but one bound together by a deep faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostles, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, testified to this truth, and the believers, in turn, lived out their faith by ensuring that no one among them was in need. This radical way of life was a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, as seen in the example of Barnabas, who sold his land and entrusted the proceeds to the Apostles for the benefit of all.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about the necessity of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Just as the wind blows where it wills, so too does the Spirit work mysteriously in the hearts of those who are open to God’s grace. Jesus emphasizes that spiritual rebirth is not about physical descent or human understanding but about surrendering to the movement of the Spirit. He then connects this truth to his own mission, likening himself to the serpent Moses lifted up in the desert—a symbol of salvation for all who believe. Jesus’ words challenge Nicodemus, and us, to move beyond earthly thinking and to embrace the heavenly realities revealed by God.
These readings remind us that faith is not merely an individual act but a communal way of life. The early Christians in Acts showed that living in unity and generosity is a practical expression of being "born anew" by the Spirit. Similarly, Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus calls us to open our hearts to the Spirit’s work within us. In our daily lives, we are invited to imitate the early Church by sharing our resources and our lives with others, trusting that God will provide for all our needs. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to renew us, to make us instruments of unity and generosity, and to deepen our faith in the eternal life that Jesus offers.