The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to trust in the direction of the Holy Spirit to lead us to greater Love for our community and greater experience of full life.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Believers share their possessions.
* [4:32–37] This is the second summary characterizing the Jerusalem community (see note on Acts 2:42–47). It emphasizes the system of the distribution of goods and introduces Barnabas, who appears later in Acts as the friend and companion of Paul, and who, as noted here (Acts 4:37), endeared himself to the community by a donation of money through the sale of property. This sharing of material possessions continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus (Lk 8:3) and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke’s gospel (Lk 12:33; 16:9, 11, 13). (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 93 praises the Majesty of God’s Rule.
* [Psalm 93] A hymn celebrating the kingship of God, who created the world (Ps 93:1–2) by defeating the sea (Ps 93:3–4). In the ancient myth that is alluded to here, Sea completely covered the land, making it impossible for the human community to live. Sea, or Flood, roars in anger against God, who is personified in the storm. God’s utterances or decrees are given authority by the victory over Sea (Ps 93:5). (Psalms, PSALM 93 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Nicodemus ponders Being Lifted Up
* [3:8] Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary.
* [3:14] Lifted up: in Nm 21:9 Moses simply “mounted” a serpent upon a pole. John here substitutes a verb implying glorification. Jesus, exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, represents healing for all.
* [3:15] Eternal life: used here for the first time in John, this term stresses quality of life rather than duration. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Mardell Wilson comments on how the entire community of believers came together to support one another, and that together, they were greater than the sum of their individual parts. They were not focused on individual needs or desires, but on the needs of the community as a whole.
This Easter season we celebrate Jesus who has defeated sin, death, and the power of the devil. Surely as Christ overcame death we too can work to overcome the selfishness, pettiness, and disunity in our world today. Just like the individuals in Acts 4, we have needs. The way God provides for those needs is through the living, breathing body of the risen Christ, and the grace he gives us. If the living God can raise Jesus back to life, He most certainly can unite the hearts and minds of followers of Jesus in his grace and love! No one needs to take their ball and go home as we share in the victory of salvation.
Lord, help us deny our selfishness, greed, and pride. Help us step out and share your love with a will and devotion to uniting our community. We ask for boldness and courage from the Holy Spirit so, like the apostles, we too won’t be able to stop talking about your atoning life, death, and resurrection. Amen. (Wilson, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “He descended so that we might ascend,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Spiritual birth happens when human beings, being earthly, become heavenly. And this can only happen when they are made members of me. So that he may ascend who descended, since no one ascends who did not descend. Therefore everyone who needs to be changed and raised must meet together in a union with Christ so that the Christ who descended may ascend, considering his body (that is to say, his church)6 as nothing other than himself." (ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND ON INFANT BAPTISM 1.60) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:7-15 comments that prayers that seem logical and wise are left unanswered. Plans change and unexpected situations arise. Regardless, our faith tells us that the Spirit is moving. Even in the midst of suffering, God is working (Romans 8:28). While circumstances may confuse us, God’s desire remains the same: to lead us to himself, to make us holy, and to walk alongside us always.
We cannot foresee every twist and turn of life. Living by the Spirit often requires “adjusting our sails,” letting go of the familiar, and embracing the mystery involved in following Jesus. It means not fighting the wind but yielding to the Spirit’s direction and making sure his wind is at our backs. And it means trusting that the Spirit is always there. He is our consoler, tenderly listening to our prayers. He is our guide, leading us by the hand through life’s hills and valleys. And he is our strength, filling our sails and moving us forward with the power we need to reach our heavenly home.
“Holy Spirit, I yield to you today.” (Meditation on John 3:7-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the impression of the disciples sharing a “Kum ba yah” community as Luke introduces the community and Barnabas in the passage from Acts. The dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus becomes more of a monologue as Jesus explains being “lifted up” by recalling Moses and the bronze serpent. Friar Jude reminds us of the Greek understanding of “lifted up” as exaltation and the theme in John that our experience of Eternal Life begins as soon as we know Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that for many practicing Jews and Christians, Sabbath rest is an essential practice to “tend the fire within.” Biblical scholar Renita J. Weems recalls the Sabbath of her childhood. Weems acknowledges that Sabbath is difficult to maintain, but can be a healing balm if practiced.
The Lord’s Day allows us to bring our souls, our emotions, our senses, our vision, and even our bodies back to God so that God might remember our tattered, broken selves and put our priorities back in order. The Sabbath makes sure we have the time to do what’s really important and be with those we really care about.
I miss the Sabbath of my childhood. I miss believing in the holiness of time. I miss believing there was a day when time stood still. There’s virtually little in this culture, and hardly anything in my adult comings and goings, to serve as a timely reminder of how precious time really is, to remind me of sacred moments. (Rohr, n.d.)
When we open ourselves to the wind of the Holy Spirit, we allow the possibility that our path will take that of deeper relationship with God and our community.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?32
John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?
Meditation on John 3:7-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/04/09/933581/
Psalms, PSALM 93 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/93?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Practicing Sabbath. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/practicing-sabbath/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Must Be Born Anew. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=apr9
Wilson, M. (2024, April 9). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/040924.html
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