Daily Catholic Lectio
Tue, 29 April ‘25
Second Week of Easter – Tuesday
Acts 4:32–37. John 3:7–15
Alternate Community
When we read the history of the early Church, we see that the Christian community — or what was then known as “The Way” — formed itself around two central realities: (a) the faith of the apostles and the people in the resurrection of Jesus, and (b) the creation of an alternative society based on radical communal living.
In the early days, the proclamation about Jesus’ resurrection did not immediately gain wide acceptance among the people. This is understandable because it was based on an invisible event, something beyond empirical evidence. The society at that time was not prepared to accept realities that could not be seen. What did leave a visible and tangible impact, however, was the formation of a new kind of community.
The characteristics of this early Christian community astonish us even today:
(a) They were of one heart and one mind — almost like a married couple living in complete unity of thought and spirit.
(b) They lived without selfishness, sharing everything in common — each one giving according to their ability and each receiving according to their need.
(c) They bore witness to the resurrection with great power — whether people believed them or not, they continued to proclaim it boldly.
If we ask ourselves whether these three qualities are present in today’s Christian communities, unfortunately, the answer would largely be “No.”
Within Christianity today, there are many divisions — divisions based on doctrine, leadership, theology, liturgical practice, and lifestyle. Even though religious communities may officially profess communal life, many tend to be more concerned about accumulating their own private possessions. Our preaching often risks becoming mere ritualistic words or decorative structures rather than transformative messages.
In today’s Gospel, we witness a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, where Jesus calls him towards faith. Yet Nicodemus hesitates. The gap between human reasoning and faith remains even today.
Faith becomes compelling to others only when it leads to a genuine transformation in the way we live.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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