First reading Acts 4:32-37
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.
The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.
None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.
There was a Levite of Cypriot origin called Joseph whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money, and presented it to the apostles.
Responsorial Psalm 92(93):1-2,5
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;
the Lord has robed himself with might,
he has girded himself with power.
The world you made firm, not to be moved;
your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time.
Gospel John 3:7-15
No-one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man who has come down from heaven
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
‘Do not be surprised when I say:
You must be born from above.
The wind blows wherever it pleases;
you hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.’
‘How can that be possible?’ asked Nicodemus. ‘You, a teacher in Israel, and you do not know these things!’ replied Jesus.
‘I tell you most solemnly,
we speak only about what we know
and witness only to what we have seen
and yet you people reject our evidence.
If you do not believe me when I speak about things in this world,
how are you going to believe me when I speak to you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven;
and the Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’
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The transformative power of faith
The first reading describes the early Christian community with these words: “The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.” Their faith in the risen Christ is not just something they believe; it changes how they live. When faith takes root in the heart, it allows us to let go of our attachment to possessions, status, and self-interest. It helps us to see others not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters.
In the gospel, Nicodemus, a respected Jew, believed he had a firm grasp on God through his careful study of his faith. However, Jesus challenged him to move beyond mere intellectual knowledge and embrace a more intimate relationship with God. Like Nicodemus, Jesus invites us to grow deeper in our connection with God, one that transcends simply knowing about Him to a personal experience filled with trust and love. This deeper relationship with God compels us to live a life for the good of others.
Reflective question:
What is one thing I can share, for example, time, resources, or attention, so that someone else may experience God’s love through me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
