YOU MUST BE BORN ANEW…

Acts 4:32-37

32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

John 3:7-15

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can this be?”10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING beautifully describe the unity and natural evolution of the first century Christian community who was overshadowed by God’s grace, to the extent that they were; charitable, generously sharing their gifts and material goods so that no one was needy. We learn that Joseph who was renamed Barnabas at his baptism, was so moved by the Holy Spirit, that he sold a property and gifted the proceeds to the Church! 

THE GOSPEL READING: Our Lord throw light on Nicodemus’ apparent ignorance of the gift and work of the Holy Spirit—the third person of the Trinity—who operates in concert with the Father and the Son as demonstrated in the creation account.Gen 1:2 Christ allude to that moment in time when the Word became flesh (Lk 1:35) in the womb of Mary. Heavenly matter entered a holy woman that saw the genesis of the recreation of man that was fulfilled on the cross of Calvary!

We who have been baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19), have been transformed, renewed such that we do no longer live for ourselves, but called to charitable expend our gifts, time and energy for the glory of the Ecclesia. If indeed we are a self-centered pleasure seeking materialistic individual who could not care less about those on the fringes of society; the sick, hungry and aged, then we are purposely suppressing the Holy Spirit in lieu of our material desires! Nicodemus eventually saw the light (Jn19:39-40) when he used his resources to procure spices to prepared our Lords body for buriel in the tomb.

LET US PRAY:Psalms 93:1-2,5

1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. Yea, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
2 thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting.
5 Thy decrees are very sure; holiness befits thy house, O LORD, for evermore.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days