Monday of the Second Week of Easter

"Open to the Spirit"

Appropriately during this Easter Season today’s gospel reading (John 3: 1-8) speaks of that rebirth or birth from above which is our baptism. Nicodemus recognizes that Jesus has come from God and Jesus says to him: “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he or she is born from above.” The “from above” can also be rendered “again.” There is an element in our salvation story which is not in our control; the Spirit must bring us to new birth.

At the Easter Vigil or at Easter Sunday Mass we renewed our baptismal promises and ended our Lenten observance with a new birth. While rebirth is a gift of the Spirit, our response or decision is the other side of the coin. There should be signs in our life of a “renewed life” welling up from the springs of salvation. There should be evidence that things are different, better, more wholesome and genuine. If there is a tendency to let it all slip, we can call on the Holy Spirit prayerfully to ignite and power our willingness to be raised up with Christ to a new and deeper life. We died with Christ in baptism in order to walk with him in newness of life (Colossians 2:12).

We pray: Holy Spirit, let us not too easily accept a return to our old way of living; help us to be open to new things in our life and to expect much from you.