Author: admin

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Acts 5:27-33:

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men. 
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The Word of the Lord.

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I was quite the “nerd” in college. I remember sitting in class on the first day of school, scanning the syllabus for each course. What were the research paper topics? The exam dates? Did we have mid-terms?

Immediately afterwards, I’d rush to the library – as if there’d be a long line in a college library the first day of class! – and check out all of the books I needed for the semester.

The journey back to my dorm room felt like an eternity; my muscles ached from carrying all those books. 

But I didn’t care. As soon as I was seated at my desk, I could dive into limitless amounts of information.

You might say the “weight/wait” was worth it.

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In our first reading, the Apostles have run into trouble… again. 

The Sanhedrin – the same group that put Jesus to death – has had the Apostles flogged and imprisoned for preaching about the resurrection. 

Now they want to kill them because they see the results; people are starting to believe in Jesus. In fact, Peter converts some crowds by the thousands.

Although the Apostles are in grave danger, they remain undeterred; this is their opportunity to suffer for Christ. He suffered for our sake, now they will suffer for his.

Like carrying a stack of books across campus, the ache of suffering is worth it; the Apostles see the end goal.

As Saint Paul later writes, “If we have died with Christ, we shall also live with Christ. If we endure, we shall also reign with him.” Their suffering is a way into his kingdom.

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Are we willing to suffer for Christ?

When a difficult choice is placed before us, do we seek the easy way out? When our faith or the Church is ridiculed do we speak up? When our morality is tested, do we give in?

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Our crosses may feel heavy at times, much like carrying a stack of books. But the “weight/wait” is worth it.  Like the Apostles, those who are faithful to the Lord will surely enter his kingdom.

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Acts 4:32-37

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas
(which is translated son of encouragement”),
a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
sold a piece of property that he owned,
then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.

The Word of the Lord.

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Throughout the Easter season, our first reading is often taken from the Acts of the Apostles, which describes the life of the early Church, answering questions like:

How did the first Christians react to the resurrection? How did they worship God? Did they celebrate Mass? Did they live in community?

One of those questions is answered today.

In our first reading, we hear, “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own.”

The first Christians were immensely generous.

Barnabas, for example, sells his property, laying the profits at the feet of the Apostles so that others who are poor and hungry might be clothed and fed that night.

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In many ways, the Church has continued that tradition of giving.

We as an institution have founded more hospitals, schools, orphanages, soup kitchens, and universities than any other group or institution on the planet.

We’ve put flesh and bones on that line from scripture, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

While we don’t have to sell our property like Barnabas, there are ways we can still contribute to the wellbeing of others through a thoughtful gesture, breaking the bonds of isolation, donating to charity, or simply bending our ear to another.

Like other Christians who’ve gone before me, how might I be a cheerful giver today?

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Gospel:

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 
Nicodemus said to him,
“How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
Jesus answered,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Easter is not a single event; it’s an entire season. For seven straight weeks, the Church encourages us to ponder the life-changing truth of the resurrection.

Yesterday, for example, we read about Doubting Thomas. He would not believe that Christ had risen from the dead unless he saw the nailmarks in his hands and slid his fingers into Jesus’ side.

John included this story about Doubting Thomas immediately after the resurrection to remind us just how hard it can be to believe. John gives us permission to doubt like Thomas; to be skeptical; to question before we believe.

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Today we encounter Nicodemus, whose role in John’s Gospel is quite similar to Doubting Thomas.

Nicodemus reminds us that faith is a journey, which often begins with an intellectual curiosity. Is there a Higher Power? Is there life after this? Does God exist? Does he know me?

This is where we encounter Nicodemus today. He’s searching for answers from Jesus on an intellectual level. “What does it mean to be born again?”

We do not see Nicodemus again until Jesus is on trial. But Nicodemus defends him before the Sanhedrin, urging his peers to allow Jesus to explain himself – a sign that Nicodemus was interested in learning more about Jesus. 

His faith was growing.

Then we encounter Nicodemus a third and final time at the tomb as he brings spices to anoint Jesus’ body. 

Does Nicodemus’ faith die with Jesus at the tomb? Or does he become one of the first Christians?

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We don’t know. John leaves that for us to ponder. 

Maybe there’s a point in that for us. 

There comes a time when we all must make the leap of faith from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Like Thomas and Nicodemus, we can question the Lord; we can ponder the faith. 

But then we must decide for ourselves: Is Jesus my Lord and my God? Did he rise from the dead? Our answer changes the rest of our lives.

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