Born of the Spirit

Readings for Monday April 20, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 4:23-31

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 2

Gospel:  John 3:1-8

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." (John 3:5-8)

In today's gospel, Jesus is telling Nicodemus how one must be born again.  This is obviously a hard concept for Nicodemus to understand from a biological standpoint.  But Jesus was not talking biologically, He was talking spiritually.  In order to make it to heaven and to reach the kingdom of God, we must be willing to enter into a new life.  We cannot continue to live a life according to the flesh and the things of this world and still expect to be with God in heaven.  We have to become more, we have to be willing to leave our old selves behind in order to become the new creation that we were meant to be.  Through our baptism and confirmation, we are born again of water and the spirit, and we are given the grace that we need in order to choose God.  

As Jesus said, "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; is it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."  In the reading from Acts today, the disciples of Jesus began to find themselves in trouble with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, but that did not stop them from speaking boldly and performing great miracles in the name of Jesus.  How were they able to do this?  By the power of the Holy Spirit.  The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they did not know where it was going to take them, but they were willing to follow and to go without hesitation.  

The Holy Spirit wants to work in each of us today.  Are we allowing Him to lead us, or are we thinking too much of where we wants to go and our own plans?  Brothers and sisters, throw your plans out the window, let the Spirit lead you, you will not know where He is taking you here on earth, but you can be sure that by following Him it will certainly lead you to heaven.  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord, send us your spirit so that we may go out and be courageous servants for you.  Lord, give us the strength to follow you without hesitation and without reserve.  May we hold nothing back, but pour ourselves out for you, as you did for us on the cross.  Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, we love and trust in you with all our hearts.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.