Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Today's Mass Readings
Alleluia, Christ is risen! We are now starting on our second week of Easter and continuing to follow the journey of the early Church as remembered in the Acts of the Apostles. Our passage for today again describes Peter and John, who, by now must be regarded as troublemakers in the eyes of many in the city. For the Christian community, however, the actions of Peter and John make sense because they are interpreted in light of the paschal mystery, i.e. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The Christians feel empowered by their recollection of all that had happened; Jesus’ death has not ended their discipleship; rather, his resurrection has intensified their commitment to the gospel message. Hence the word that describes them is “boldness.” In the face of threats, they stay true to their lives as followers of Jesus. We’ve probably all heard of “born again” Christians. Today’s gospel passage from John includes the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus in which this phrase appears. Jesus tells Nicodemus that a person must be born again of water and Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God. And, indeed, water and Spirit is a reference to baptism. Through our baptism, we die with Christ and rise to new life by living as his disciple. The Spirit, whose coming we celebrate formally at Pentecost, leaves us with an indelible mark in baptism. We are truly “born again,” and it is this birth that ought to define the rest of our lives.
The boldness exhibited by the early Christians is a great example of what a “born again” life really should look like. Dying with Christ and rising to new life is something that makes us stronger. We are able to live as better and holier people, not simply because of our own ability, but because we rely on the grace of God – the gift that is freely given to us in baptism, the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God.
During this Easter season, we call to mind our baptism and our eternal destiny. We are not created to waste away on earth and be buried in the ground and simply cease to exist. We are created to share in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. We live and die with Christ in order to rise with him. In this joyous season, we cannot think too lightly of this incredible gift. God has given us new life and hence made life worth living. We are born again. Let us, then, live with the boldness that is our share in the Kingdom.
- Maria Morrow