2ND WEEK OF EASTER
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)
Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
1st Reading: Acts 4:32-37
The whole community of believers was one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions; but rather, they shared all things in common. With great power, the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace.
There was no needy person among them, for those who owned land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale. And they laid it at the feet of the apostles, who distributed it, according to each one’s need. This is what a certain Joseph did. He was a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, meaning: “The encouraging one.” He sold a field which he owned and handed the money to the apostles.
Gospel: Jn 3:7b-15
Because of this, don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again from above.’ The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus asked again, “How can this be?” And Jesus answered, “You are a teacher in Israel, and you don’t know these things!
Truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we witness to the things we have seen, but you don’t accept our testimony. If you don’t believe when I speak of earthly things, what then, when I speak to you of heavenly things? No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Reflections
THE WIND BLOWS WHERE IT PLEASES AND YOU HEAR ITS SOUND BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM OR WHERE IT IS GOING. IT IS LIKE THAT WITH EVERYONE WHO IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT.
The mystery of the Blessed Trinity is the most sublime of the mysteries of Christianity. It could not have been invented by any human being. And of the three persons of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the one who is most unknown, most mysterious and most intriguing. It is the aspect of the Divinity that expresses its being truly MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM. And yet it is the one that gives so much hope. Because we humans tend to create God to our own image and likeness making an idol that will justify what we want to do. But that is exactly where the Holy Spirit cannot be placed: in one’s pocket. Like the wind, She blows where She wills. One cannot predict Her. One cannot manipulate Her to fit one’s mind set. The Holy Spirit can intervene in any hopeless situation. When there seems to be no way out, no solution, the Holy Spirit can surprise us and lead us out of this hopeless situation. SEND FORTH THY SPIRT, AND THEY SHALL BE CREATED AND THOU SHALT RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH!
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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