Daily Readings - Sun Apr 08 2018

First Reading - Acts 4.32-35

³²Then the multitude of believers were of one heart and one soul. Neither did anyone say that any of the things that he possessed were his own, but all things were common to them³³And with great power, the Apostles were rendering testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. And great grace was in them all³⁴And neither was anyone among them in need. For as many as were owners of fields or houses, selling these, were bringing the proceeds of the things that they were selling³⁵and were placing it before the feet of the Apostles. Then it was divided to each one, just as he had need

Second Reading - 1 John 5.1-6

1 John

Chapter 5

¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And everyone who loves God, who provides that birth, also loves him who has been born of God²In this way, we know that we love those born of God: when we love God and do his commandments³For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not heavy⁴For all that is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God⁶This is the One who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. Not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is the One who testifies that the Christ is the Truth

Gospel - John 20.19-31

John

Chapter 20

¹⁹Then, when it was late on the same day, on the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said to them: "Peace to you.²⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. And the disciples were gladdened when they saw the Lord²¹Therefore, he said to them again: "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.²²When he had said this, he breathed on them. And he said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit²³Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.²⁴Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus arrived²⁵Therefore, the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I will see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the place of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.²⁶And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus arrived, though the doors had been closed, and he stood in their midst and said, "Peace to you.²⁷Next, he said to Thomas: "Look at my hands, and place your finger here; and bring your hand close, and place it at my side. And do not choose to be unbelieving, but faithful.²⁸Thomas responded and said to him, "My Lord and my God.²⁹Jesus said to him: "You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.³⁰Jesus also accomplished many other signs in the sight of his disciples. These have not been written in this book³¹But these things have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, in believing, you may have life in his name

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the unity of faith, the power of love, and the triumph of belief over doubt. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in harmony, sharing their possessions, and caring for one another. This unity was not accidental; it flowed from their shared faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and their commitment to living as his disciples. The Apostles, filled with grace, testified to the power of the Risen Lord, and the community responded with generosity and trust. This passage reminds us that faith is not a solitary act but a communal way of life. In the Gospel, we encounter Thomas, who struggles with doubt after the Resurrection. While the other disciples had seen the Lord, Thomas was absent, and his skepticism led him to demand physical proof of Jesus' presence. When Jesus appears to him, he gently invites Thomas to touch his wounds, saying, "Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas's response, "My Lord and my God," is a profound declaration of faith. Jesus then blesses those who believe without seeing, which includes us. This story teaches us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in God's love and presence, even when we face uncertainty. The second reading from 1 John ties these themes together. It tells us that love for God and love for others are inseparable. To love God is to keep his commandments, and to love others is to live as children of God. John reminds us that our faith overcomes the world, not through our own strength, but through the power of God. The readings today call us to live with generosity, trust, and love, just like the early Christian community. They remind us that faith is not about avoiding doubt but about growing deeper in our relationship with God, even when the road is uncertain. Let us ask for the grace to believe without seeing and to love without reserve, that we might truly live as children of God.