The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to respond to the gifts of the Spirit that bring courage and curiosity to consider how we grow in our relationship with Christ.
The reading from the Book of Acts is a Prayer of the Community
* [4:27] Herod: Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39, who executed John the Baptist and before whom Jesus was arraigned; cf. Lk 23:6–12.
* [4:31] The place…shook: the earthquake is used as a sign of the divine presence in Ex 19:18; Is 6:4. Here the shaking of the building symbolizes God’s favorable response to the prayer. Luke may have had as an additional reason for using the symbol in this sense the fact that it was familiar in the Hellenistic world. Ovid and Virgil also employ it. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 2 is a royal Psalm.
* [Psalm 2] A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Heb 1:5). (Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John describes Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus.
* [3:1–21] Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the necessity of a new birth from above. This scene in Jerusalem at Passover exemplifies the faith engendered by signs (Jn 2:23). It continues the self-manifestation of Jesus in Jerusalem begun in Jn 2. This is the first of the Johannine discourses, shifting from dialogue to monologue (Jn 3:11–15) to reflection of the evangelist (Jn 3:16–21). The shift from singular through Jn 3:10 to plural in Jn 3:11 may reflect the early church’s controversy with the Jews.
* [3:1] A ruler of the Jews: most likely a member of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin; see note on Mk 8:31.
* [3:3] Born: see note on Jn 1:13. From above: the Greek adverb anōthen means both “from above” and “again.” Jesus means “from above” (see Jn 3:31) but Nicodemus misunderstands it as “again.” This misunderstanding serves as a springboard for further instruction.
* [3:8] Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Tom Lenz has witnessed many times over, as a college professor, the social norm that assumes that science and religion do not mix.
In our world today, we often get stuck only hearing, seeing, and feeling matter. Our physical ailments, our emotional pain, and our worry are all so tangible that it can seem that this is all there is to reality. Jesus’ words to Nicodemus apply to us too, “What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.” In other words, “Let’s not get stuck and mired down in the physical matter of the world. It is important and has its place, but it’s not the full story. Allow yourself to hear the wind blow is ways other than with your ears. This can lead to a new birth and ‘seeing’ the Kingdom of God.” (Lenz, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Reborn and Fed by the Spirit,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"And then that rebirth, which brings about the forgiveness of all past sins, takes place in the Holy Spirit, according to the Lord's own words, 'Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of God.' But it is one thing to be born of the Spirit, another to be fed by the Spirit; just as it is one thing to be born of the flesh, which happens when a mother gives birth, and another to be fed from the flesh, which appears when she nurses the baby. We see the child turn to drink with delight from the bosom of her who brought it forth to life. Its life continues to be nourished by the same source which brought it into being." (excerpt from Sermon 71.19) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:1-8 invites us to consider how amazing it must have been for Nicodemus when he became a follower of Jesus, when he finally did experience this rebirth for himself. It changed him so much that instead of coming to Jesus under the cover of night, he joined Joseph of Arimathea in taking Jesus’ body from the cross and anointing it for burial (John 19:39).
Brothers and sisters, you have been “born from above” (John 3:3), born of the Spirit of the living God! You are not simply a member of a parish. You are a member of the kingdom of God. You have received God’s own life, a life that extends from now into eternity!
So spend some time thanking Jesus for all he has done for you. Thank him for giving you a new birth and for opening you up to a new and ever-deepening relationship with him.
“Lord, thank you for making me into a new creation!” (Meditation on John 3:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that in the passage from Acts, the community prays for protection and courage from the Spirit after interrogation by the Jewish leaders. In John’s Gospel, Nicodemus appears with Jesus and later defends prudence and then risks life to bury Jesus. Friar Jude reminds us of our rebirth in Baptism in water and the Spirit contrary to the gnostic claim of life only in spirit.
Brian McLaren introduces Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer who considers the gift economy of natural processes. Receiving gifts naturally leads to gratitude and ongoing generosity.
Enumerating the gifts you’ve received creates a sense of abundance, the knowing that you already have what you need. Recognizing “enoughness” is a radical act in an economy that is always urging us to consume more…. Ecopsychologists have shown that the practice of gratitude puts brakes on hyper-consumption. The relationships nurtured by gift thinking diminish our sense of scarcity and want. In that climate of sufficiency, our hunger for more abates and we take only what we need, in respect for the generosity of the giver… (McLaren, n.d.)
We invite the Spirit to arouse our gratitude for our experience of life with Christ through which we have come to affirm our growth in living as people “born again”.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?23
John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?1
Lenz, T. (2025, April 28). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/042825.html
McLaren, B. (n.d.). Flourishing Is Mutual. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/flourishing-is-mutual/
Meditation on John 3:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/28/1263947/
Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr28
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