Like the Wind

Readings for Monday April 12, 2010

First Reading: Acts 4:23-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2
Gospel: John 3:1-8


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.”

A little over a year ago, here in Ohio, we had gotten some of the after effects of one of the hurricanes from down south. While we didn't have any of the water to deal with, we did see a significant amount of wind gusts. It actually wreaked a great deal of havoc across the area. Power was out for many homes, schools were closed due to no water and/or power, and there was a great deal of damage and debris. This was something that we were certainly not used to in Ohio. Wind is a powerful force, and it has a funny way of coming into an environment and affecting it in some way.

In the gospel today, Jesus tells us that those who are born of the Spirit are like the wind, no one knows where they come from and where they go. I think what Jesus was trying to get across was that those who are born of the Spirit become a powerful force. Much like the disciples that we are reading about in the book of Acts, we see that those who are born of the Spirit begin to affect their environment and those around them in some way. People recognize the powerful force that those who are strong in the Spirit, and while they may not know where they came from or where they are going, but they have been affected.

Through baptism and confirmation, we have been reborn through water and Spirit. Do we allow God's Spirit to work through us to be the powerful force in this life that we are meant to be? Do others recognize the work of God in our life, and by our example are so moved to let Jesus into their own life? Each of us is a vessel, we have to choose whether we are going to be a vessel for good or for evil. God can and wants to do great things through us, but only if we are willing to say 'yes' to Him each moment of our lives.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you so much for all that you have blessed us with. Lord, we thank you for your great love and mercy, help us to share this with those around us. Lord, there is no one like you, help us to only serve you in our lives and be the people that you created us to be. We pray for the conversion of all those who do not know you, may they be brought back to your loving arms. We pray for a deeper conversion of all the faithful, that we might grow deeper in faith, love and virtue. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.