TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 3:7b-15 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

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 (Jn 3:8)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 4:32-37

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,

and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,

but they had everything in common.

With great power the Apostles bore witness

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and great favor was accorded them all.

There was no needy person among them,

for those who owned property or houses would sell them,

bring the proceeds of the sale,

and put them at the feet of the Apostles,

and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas

(which is translated "son of encouragement"),

a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,

sold a piece of property that he owned,

then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

"'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."

Nicodemus answered and said to him,

'How can this happen?"

Jesus answered and said to him,

"You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?

Amen, amen, I say to you,

we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen,

but you people do not accept our testimony.

If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,

how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

No one has gone up to heaven

except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.

And just 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."

TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 3:7b-15

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God recounts the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus at night.

Nicodemus was a leader among the Jews in the synagogue and a teacher among the Israelites. He believed that Jesus was the Holy One who came from God the Father. He believed in Jesus' teachings because no one could teach and perform miracles like Jesus. He believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. But he did not dare to reveal his faith in front of everyone, because in his heart he was still afraid, afraid of being excluded from the Jewish synagogue, so he secretly went to Jesus at night to talk to Jesus.

Taking that opportunity, Jesus taught Nicodemus a lesson that if you want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, you must be born again. Nicodemus still did not understand. He said: "'How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?'"Jesus explained to him, as well as to everyone that to enter His Kingdom of Heaven, we must put on a new self, must give up all sin, and renounce all impurities of the world in order to fully put on a new self in Christ.

Through the spirit of the Holy Spirit that guides, and influences our beliefs, living, and following God's teachings.

Jesus' words to the Jews are true. He wanted to save humankind, therefore, He spoke God the Father's teachings to humanity so that whoever listened and followed them would be saved.

His testimony is true, but people do not believe it.

Today's Word of God teaches everyone:

-Those who look at the cross and believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to earth to become a human being, died, and was resurrected to atone for our sins, that we must give up our old, sinful selves to become the new Jesus Christ, the One who originated life. It is by living like that, we will be granted salvation and eternal life with God the Father in Heaven.

- Whoever wants to enter His Kingdom of Heaven should receive strength from the Holy Spirit, and live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is to convert our lives, return to God, and become a new person in Christ, then we will have eternal life in Heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen