" It is only through shadows that one comes to know the light. "

                                                         

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Acts 4:32-37

The whole community

Of believers was one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions,

but rather, they shared all things in common. With great powers the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace.

 

There was no needy person among them, for those who owned land or houses,

sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale and they laid it at the feet of the apostles, who distributed it,

according to each one's need. This is what a certain Joseph did. He was a Levite from Cyprus,

whom the apostles called Barnabas, meaning: "The encouraging one."

He sold a field which he owned and handed the money to the apostles.

 

Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 3:7b-15

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?

No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man. 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.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Love of God and love of neighbour."

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn revealed the full horror of Communism in Russia in his huge work The Gulag Archipelago.

The high ideals of sharing everything fell apart because the human person was understood only in economic terms,

and the system was built upon an ideology of class-war that would be used to justify unbelievable atrocities.

 

Both Communism and aggressive Capitalism have been condemned by a long line of popes,

since both extremes reduce the human person to a cog in an economic machine and fail to support the poor.

This is the difference between these systems and what we read in the first reading.

Communism failed because it was built on fear. The early Church in Jerusalem was able to share goods

and support those in need because the community was built on love of God and love of neighbour.

 

Pope Francis has continued the Church's long-standing social teaching on solidarity, fraternity and political charity.

We should want the good for others. Saint Catherine of Siena strove for unity and charity in the Church at a time when it was divided.

May we be instruments of unity and charity in Church and society, treating others with respect, rather than fear or contempt.