Tuesday, April 14, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

“’How can this happen?’” Nicodemus asks Jesus in the gospel.  It’s the same question many would ask of the first reading.  How can people sell their houses and property and donate all the proceeds to the community? 

The Acts of the Apostles tells of Joseph’s generosity to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit.  Under the Spirit’s guidance people put aside self-interest for the good of all.  It should be noted that the wholesale mutuality of the primitive Christian community is not perfect and does not prevail for long.  The story of Joseph’s selflessness is followed by the sober tale of a believer’s deception out of self-concern.  In the next chapter of Acts, the altercation between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking disciples is related.  It may be concluded that the innocence of human nature is not restored by the Holy Spirit without an inclination to sin.

Christian shortcomings have caused scandal both in the world and within the community.  At the end of the Middle Ages the selling of indulgences by clerics gave rise to the Protestant Reformation.  Today many are reserved about receiving the sacraments because of the revelations of child abuse by clergy.  And certainly, Christians have been guilty of racial and religious bigotry over the centuries.  There is need for investigating these matters lest too severe judgments are made.  Yet repentance and penance are also in order.  It is not that the Spirit has abandoned the Church but that Church members have failed to follow its lead.  We must regularly turn back to the Spirit with sincere hearts.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

Jesus explains to Nicodemus the movement of the Spirit in today’s gospel.  He says that it moves the reborn person to act in new ways.  She no longer lives for herself but for others.  She loves without expecting anything in return.  She also takes delight in seeing others growing free, loving, and wise.  The Spirit has assured her of God’s infinite love.  This kind of person makes up the community of disciples described in the reading from Acts.  Each member supports one another.  The result is that everyone has all that is necessary to live in peace.

Communal experiences of mutual love are frequently tried and sometimes they last for years.  Often they end as members are drawn away by different personal needs.  However, monasteries have been able to preserve communal harmony for centuries.  They often draw high-minded people who respond well to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

We may not live in communities as mutually supportive as that of the Christians in Jerusalem after the resurrection. Nor are we likely to join a monastery.  Nevertheless, we are being moved by the Holy Spirit to live less individualistically, more communally.  We feel the urge to share time and material possessions with those in need.  We also are prompted to move beyond our fears and desires to assist others.  In these ways we show ourselves to be born from above with heaven as likewise our destiny.

 

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

 

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

 (Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

 The idyllic scene described in today’s first reading makes some people despair.  “We could never have this kind of self-sacrifice in today’s world,” they say to themselves.  But the spirit of total sharing does not necessarily last long, even in the Acts of the Apostles.  The very next chapter narrates how a couple tried to deceive the community with their gift.

Today’s gospel suggests an explanation.  “The wind blows where it wills,” it says, “…but you do not know where it comes or where it goes.”  Like the wind, the Holy Spirit works in its own ways.  One cannot possess it so that it obeys one’s will.  Rather, it takes hold of the person who must strive to keep it.  Of course, it is worth the effort.

We become docile to the Holy Spirit when we keep away from people and things that can lead us awry.  One mother became alarmed that her daughter was starting to behave crudely.  Noticing that her new friends were a negative influence, the mother demanded that she not go out with them.  The girl obeyed, found new friends, and grew up responsible and caring.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

 Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

 (Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

Everyone who knows the four gospels recognizes that John’s is different from Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s.  One significant difference is that in John’s gospel, Jesus does not teach with parables.  There are no long pedagogical stories in John’s like the “Good Samaritan” in Luke’s or the “Vineyard Owner” in Mark’s.  Rather the evangelist John is the master of another teaching technique not commonly found in the others.  In John’s gospel Jesus teaches by means of extended dialogues with different characters such as Nicodemus in today’s passage.

 Nicodemus has come to Jesus “at night,” which symbolizes being unenlightened.  Perhaps he is impressed with Jesus like Jerusalemites of the first century must have been with the Christian community holding everything in common.  In any case, Jesus tells Nicodemus about the power behind such generous sharing.  It is this way “with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  When Nicodemus asks about the source of the Spirit, Jesus replies a bit cryptically but nevertheless understandably to the Christian readers of the gospel.  He says that the source of the Spirit is himself, “the Son of Man,” being “lifted up” on the cross.

The same generosity of Christians through the ages has drawn many people closer to Christ.  We should not hesitate to add to this effort.  This does not mean that we make public displays of our giving.  Rather, it means to treat all people better than indifferently and showing particular care for the poor.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

Jesus explains to Nicodemus the movement of the Spirit in today’s gospel.  He says that it moves the reborn person to act in new ways.  She no longer lives for herself but for others.  She loves without expecting anything in return.  She also takes delight in seeing others growing free, loving, and wise.  The Spirit has assured her of God’s infinite love.  This kind of person makes up the community of disciples described in the reading from Acts.  Each member supports one another.  The result is that everyone has all that is necessary to live in peace.

Communal experiences of mutual love are frequently tried and sometimes they last for years.  Usually they end as members are drawn away by different personal needs.  However, monasteries have been able to preserve communal harmony for centuries.  They often draw high-minded people who respond well to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

We may not live in communities as mutually supportive as that of the Christians in Jerusalem after the resurrection. Nor are we likely to join a monastery.  Nevertheless, we are being moved by the Holy Spirit to live less individualistically, more communally.  We feel the urge to share time and material possessions with those in need.  We also are prompted to move beyond our fears and desires to assist others.  In these ways we show ourselves to be born from above with heaven as likewise our destiny.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

Everyone who has heard the four gospels a few times knows that John is different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  One significant difference is that in John’s gospel Jesus does not teach much with parables.  There are no long pedagogic stories in John like the “Good Samaritan” in Luke or the “Vineyard Owner” in Mark.  Rather John is the master of another teaching technique that is not commonly found in the others.  In John Jesus teaches by means of extended dialogues with different characters such as Nicodemus in today’s gospel.

Nicodemus has come to Jesus “at night,” which is symbolic for being unenlightened.  Perhaps he is impressed with Jesus like those in the first reading who witness the Jerusalem Christian community holding everything in common.  In any case Jesus tells Nicodemus about the power behind such generous sharing.  It is this way “with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  When Nicodemus asks about the source of the Spirit, Jesus replies a bit cryptically but nevertheless understandably to the Christian readers of the gospel.  The source of the Spirit is Jesus, the Son of Man, being “lifted up” on the cross.

Believers’ generosity has drawn many non-believers and lukewarm believers to Christ over the century.  We should not be afraid to contribute to this effort.  This does not mean that we make public displays of our giving.  But it moves us to treat all people better than fairly, showing particular care for the poor and unemployed.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

“’How can this happen?’” Nicodemus asks Jesus in the gospel. It’s the same question many would ask of the first reading. How can people sell their houses and property and donate all the proceeds to the community?

Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles, tells of Joseph’s generosity to illustrate the power of the Holy Spirit. He is saying that under the Spirit’s influence people can put aside self-concern for the good of all. It must be noted that the wholesale mutuality of the primitive Christian community does not last long. The story of Joseph’s selflessness is immediately followed by the sober tale of a believer’s deception out of self-interest. Then, in the next chapter, the squabble between the Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking disciples is related. It must be concluded that human nature is not completely resurrected with the coming of the Spirit however much individuals are enabled to love others.

Christian shortcomings cause scandal both in the world and within the community. At the end of the Middle Ages the selling of indulgences by clerics gave rise to the Protestant Reformation. Today many are reserved about receiving the sacraments because of the revelations of child abuse by clergy. And certainly Christians have been guilty of racial and religious bigotry over the centuries. There is need for investigating these matters lest too severe judgments are made. Yet repentance and penance are also in order. It is not that the Spirit has abandoned the Church but that Church members have failed to follow its lead. We must turn back to the Spirit with sincere hearts.