Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter. The community of believers: one heart, one mind, no needy person among them. Barnabas, the son of encouragement. Possessions shared. As Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be lifted up - eternal life for everyone who believes.

The community of believers is of one heart and mind. No one claims possessions as their own; they hold everything in common. The apostles bear witness to the resurrection with great power. There is no needy person among them, because those who own property sell it and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution according to need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, is named Barnabas - son of encouragement - by the apostles. He sells a field and puts the money at their feet. In the Gospel, the Nicodemus conversation continues. Jesus says: as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

DEACON/PRIEST: Lord Jesus, you create communities of one heart and one mind where no one is left in need. PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.

DEACON/PRIEST: Christ Jesus, you were lifted up on the cross so that everyone who believes in you may have eternal life. PEOPLE: Christ, have mercy.

DEACON/PRIEST: Lord Jesus, you call your Church to be sons and daughters of encouragement, giving what we have for the sake of those who need it. PEOPLE: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: The Lord is king, robed in majesty. Let us bring our prayers before the God who makes the world firm.

DEACON/LECTOR:

1. For Pope Leo, for our bishop, and for all who oversee the distribution of the Church's resources, that the principle of Acts would guide their stewardship: no needy person among us, we pray to the Lord.

2. For those in our community who are in material need - the unemployed, the underinsured, the families stretching every dollar - that the parish would be the place where their need is met, not merely acknowledged, we pray to the Lord.

3. For the newly baptized who have just entered the community of believers, that they would find the one heart and one mind described in Acts and not a collection of strangers who happen to attend the same Mass, we pray to the Lord.

4. For all who serve as sons and daughters of encouragement in this parish - the volunteers, the ministers, the quiet ones who notice needs before anyone asks - that their encouragement would be returned to them when they need it most, we pray to the Lord.

5. For those carrying crosses that feel meaningless, that the image of the Son of Man lifted up would connect their suffering to the eternal life it produces in ways they cannot yet see, we pray to the Lord.

6. For all who have died believing in the Son of Man who was lifted up, that the eternal life Jesus promised Nicodemus would be theirs now and forever, and that the community they helped build on earth would honor their memory by continuing to share, we pray to the Lord.

PRIEST: God of one heart and one mind, you gave us Barnabas as the model of encouragement and the cross as the source of eternal life. Make us generous with our resources and lavish with our encouragement. Through Christ our Risen Lord. Alleluia! Amen.