DAILY- HOMILY

April 30, 2019 – TUESDAY, 2nd Week of Easter

St. Pius V, Pope

Memorial. White.

Acts 4: 32 – 37 / Jn 3: 7b – 15.

Pope  St.  Pius  V  (1504  -   1572)  enforced  reforms  from  the  Council  of Trent, published the Roman Catechism and revised the Roman Missal and the Divine Office.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Acts 4: 32 – 33

The whole community of believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but rather they shared things in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace.

GOSPEL READING:           Jn 3: 7b – 15

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Because of this, don't be surprised when I say: 'You must be born again from above.'

"The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus asked again, "How can this be?" And Jesus answered, "You are a teacher in Israel, and you don't know these things!

"Truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we witness to the things we have seen, but you don't accept our testimony.. If you don't believe when I speak of earthly things, what then, when I speak to you of heavenly things?

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

REFLECTION

In the first reading we see the early Christian communities sharing property with one another and taking care of all their fellow believers and followers of Christ: "No one claimed private ownership of possessions, but rather they shared things in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace."

In the Gospel reading, in his conversation with the Jewish leader Nicodemus, Jesus speaks of being "born in the Spirit" and having eternal life through the Son of Man being lifted up, just as the Hebrews of old bitten by serpents were saved by looking at the mounted bronze serpent. Jesus was speaking about his being lifted up on the cross for the salvation of mankind.

As Peter preached on Pentecost Sunday, "God accredited him [Jesus] and through him did powerful deeds and wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know. You delivered him to sinners to be crucified and killed, and in this way, the purpose of God from all times was fulfilled. But God raised him from the pain of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in the power of death." (Acts 2: 22b – 24)

All believers of Christ are re-born in baptism in water and the Holy Spirit and hope to reach eternal life through their faith in the Son of God who became man and died on the cross for man's salvation.

We pray for an increase in our faith in the Lord Jesus.

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

Have a good day!

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