4.2 Daily Readings Reflection – April 27–29, 2025

1. Sunday, April 27, 2025

Gospel: John 20:19–31

The account shows Jesus appears to the disciples following his resurrection by giving them peace and displaying his wounds to them. Thomas refused to believe without witnessing Jesus' presence in front of him.

Personal Reflection: The story of Thomas makes me think of experiences I've seen of others' doubting faith. It also makes me think of how, in my church youth group, we speak about how personal encounters with Jesus bring peace to our hearts. Faith includes moments of doubt, which eventually create greater understanding.

Classroom Integration: The assignment encourages students to document their beliefs and doubts through journaling or art while showing how uncertainty can produce stronger faith.

2. Monday, April 28, 2025

Gospel: John 3:1–8

Through his discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus explains that seeing the Kingdom of God requires an above-birth experience, which he connects to spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit.

Personal Reflection: The dialogue demonstrates the transformative power of faith while stressing the need for spiritual renewal and openness to divine transformation. This reminds me of my experiences as a student teacher, to help me show students how the Spirit operates throughout my daily activities in their lives, even in simple art tasks.

Classroom Integration: Teach students to explore their growth through class discussions about transformation, which relate the "born anew" concept to their life experiences and help them pinpoint spiritual development opportunities.

3. Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Gospel: John 3:7–15

During his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus uses the story of Moses lifting the serpent in the desert to compare it with his crucifixion, which leads to salvation.

Personal Reflection: The passage links Old Testament events with New Testament teachings to show God's continuous plan. The interconnected nature of Scripture connects to my experience with art as I find comfort in making connections from my work to God’s teachings, and it becomes clearer to me through this passage.

Classroom Integration: The design of lessons should follow Testament themes to demonstrate how the Bible presents a unified story which leads students toward deeper salvation history understanding. The readings show how Jesus' connection with his followers advanced while presenting doubts about renewal and prophecies reaching fulfillment. Educators should utilize these themes to help students develop their faith by encouraging personal and reflective engagement with scripture.