FIRST READING
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 Ason 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.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed: holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
John 3:14-15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
John 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.”
REFLECTIONS:
Do you know the healing power and victory of the
cross of Jesus Christ? Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of a "new birth in the
Spirit" which would come about through the victory he would accomplish
through his death and rising. The Hebrew word for "spirit" means both "wind"
and "breath". Jesus said to Nicodemus: "You can hear, feel, and see the
effects of the wind, but you do not know where it comes from. In like manner,
you can see the effects of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those the Spirit
touches." Jesus explained to Nicodemus the necessity of the crucifixion,
his atoning death on the cross, and the resurrection, his rising from the
tomb on the third day, by analogy with Moses lifting up the bronze serpent
in the desert which brough healing and deliverance from the curse of death.
When the people of Israel were afflicted with serpents in the wilderness
because of their sin, God instructed Moses: "Make a fiery serpent, and
set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live"(Numbers
21:8).
The bronze serpent points to the cross of Christ which defeats sin and
death and obtains everlasting life for those who believe in Jesus Christ.
The result of Jesus "being lifted up on the cross" and his rising from
the dead, and his exaltation and ascension to the Father's right hand in
heaven, is our "new birth in the Spirit" and adoption as sons and daughters
of God. God not only frees us from our sins and pardons us, he also fills
us with his own divine life through the gift of his Spirit so that we may
share in his glory. Jesus makes us a new creation through the gift and
working of his Holy Spirit. His Spirit also gives us boldness and confidence
to openly share the good news of the gospel and to defend it by our words
and action, and to never be ashamed of the Cross of Christ. The Holy Spirit
gives us spiritual gifts, especially the seven-fold gifts of wisdom and
understanding, right judgment and courage, knowledge and reverence for
God and his ways, and a holy fear in God's presence (see Isaiah 11), to
enable us to live in his strength as sons and daughters of God. Do you
thirst for the new life which God offers you through the transforming
power of his Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus Christ, your death brought life for us. Fill me with your
Holy Spirit that I may walk in freedom and joy in the knowledge of your
great victory over sin and death."
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