MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 3:1-8) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.” (Jn 3:5-6)

FIRST READING - Acts 4:23-31

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

After their release Peter and John went back to their own people

and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.

And when they heard it,

they raised their voices to God with one accord

and said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth

and the sea and all that is in them,

you said by the Holy Spirit

through the mouth of our father David, your servant:

Why did the Gentiles rage

and the peoples entertain folly?

The kings of the earth took their stand

and the princes gathered together

against the Lord and against his anointed.

Indeed they gathered in this city

against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,

Herod and Pontius Pilate,

together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

to do what your hand and your will

had long ago planned to take place.

And now, Lord, take note of their threats,

and enable your servants to speak your word

with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,

and signs and wonders are done

through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 3:1-8

From the Gospel according to John

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

He came to Jesus at night and said to him,

"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,

for no one can do these signs that you are doing

unless God is with him."

Jesus answered and said to him,

"Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to him,

"How can a man once grown old be born again?

Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?"

Jesus answered,

"Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless one is born of water and Spirit

he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

What is born of flesh is flesh

and what is born of spirit is spirit.

Do not be amazed that I told you,

'You must be born from above.'

The wind blows where it wills,

and you can hear the sound it makes,

but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;

so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 3:1-8)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God for today recounts the story of Nicodemus coming to see Jesus Christ.

God gave Nicodemus the grace of faith, and from that faith, He showed him that Jesus Christ is the greatest Teacher. How happy are those who believe and follow what Jesus Christ teaches!

God also showed Nicodemus the powerful and authoritative words of God, and from there, He directed him to the power of the Holy Spirit. He taught him that everything must be done according to the spirit of the Holy Spirit to have eternal life.

God reveals that not only did Nicodemus follow the Word of God, but He also called on all people in the world today to listen to and follow the Word of God, put on the graces that God will give so that the spirit of the Holy Spirit can work according to those graces. That is to put on the new person of Jesus Christ and put on the graces that are the fruits of the Holy Spirit. God has taught people that: "Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." For that reason, God continues to call people to run to God so that He will transform each person's old self into a new person. This new person will be born from the very spirit and light of God.

God also revealed that what is born of the world will belong to the world, and what is born from above, born of the spirit of the Holy Spirit, will last forever. Humans have a soul and a body, so they must always combine to work according to the Holy Spirit's grace, strength, and power to enjoy eternal life. Through this real story, God continues to invite people to have absolute trust in the power and strength of God. He can transform anything. He will give people eternal life, but only on the condition that people change their lives and put on the spirit of the Holy Spirit, as God invites. Because only the activity of the Holy Spirit in the soul and body of a person will grant eternal life in the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. As Jesus Christ invited Nicodemus: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is the spirit."

Therefore, God continues to call people in today’s world to be reborn in spirit, to be cleansed by the Holy Spirit of all filth and sin in each person, and to put on a new person guided by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus Christ called Nicodemus.

Thanks be to God. Amen.