First reading Acts 4:23-31
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly
As soon as Peter and John were released they went to the community and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard it they lifted up their voice to God all together. ‘Master,’ they prayed ‘it is you who made heaven and earth and sea, and everything in them; you it is who said through the Holy Spirit and speaking through our ancestor David, your servant:
Why this arrogance among the nations,
these futile plots among the peoples?
Kings on earth setting out to war,
princes making an alliance,
against the Lord and against his Anointed.
‘This is what has come true: in this very city Herod and Pontius Pilate made an alliance with the pagan nations and the peoples of Israel, against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, but only to bring about the very thing that you in your strength and your wisdom had predetermined should happen. And now, Lord, take note of their threats and help your servants to proclaim your message with all boldness, by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.
Responsorial Psalm 2:1-9
Blessed are they who put their trust in God.
or
Alleluia!
Why this tumult among nations,
among peoples this useless murmuring?
They arise, the kings of the earth,
princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed.
‘Come, let us break their fetters,
come, let us cast off their yoke.’
Blessed are they who put their trust in God.
or
Alleluia!
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord is laughing them to scorn.
Then he will speak in his anger,
his rage will strike them with terror.
‘It is I who have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
Blessed are they who put their trust in God.
or
Alleluia!
I will announce the decree of the Lord:
The Lord said to me: ‘You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.
Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations,
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With a rod of iron you will break them,
shatter them like a potter’s jar.’
Blessed are they who put their trust in God.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel John 3:1-8
Unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God
There was one of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a leading Jew, who came to Jesus by night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who comes from God; for no one could perform the signs that you do unless God were with him.’ Jesus answered:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
unless a man is born from above,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.’
Nicodemus said, ‘How can a grown man be born? Can he go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?’ Jesus replied:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
unless a man is born through water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God:
what is born of the flesh is flesh;
what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not be surprised when I say:
You must be born from above.
The wind blows wherever it pleases;
you hear its sound,
but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
That is how it is with all who are born of the Spirit.’
_________________________________________
Born again
Nicodemus was a good and moral Jew and was a respected leader in the Jewish community. Many of us can relate to Nicodemus. Like him, we are good Catholics who attend mass regularly, participate in church events, and make efforts to follow the rules. But is there more to our Christian faith than just all these external practices? Have we overlooked the bigger picture? Despite being a good religious Jew, Nicodemus sensed that something was missing in his life, which led him to seek Jesus, believing He could fill that void. Today, let us learn from Nicodemus by turning to Jesus and allowing Him to guide us on the path to a more authentic growth in our spiritual life.
Jesus told Nicodemus, “In all truth, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” He invited him to experience a new spiritual birth by allowing the Holy Spirit to recreate a new life in him. Today, Jesus extends the same invitation to us. This means we must first let go of control and allow the Holy Spirit to guide and transform us so that we can be born again.
Reflective question:
Do I desire to be born again, i.e. to experience deeper growth in my spiritual life?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
