Jesus answered,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
‘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.”

John 3: 5-8

Here are the complete readings for Monday, April 28, 2025.

(“Christ and Nicodemus on a Roof” by Henry Ossawa Tanner)

When we have moments of clarity, can we admit why we crave what is easy in life, even if this is not healthy for us? When we surrender and are open to the Spirit, our lives are not necessarily going to be easier. Simpler, perhaps, but not easier. Look at Nicodemus. He sought out Jesus to find answers, and instead he got cryptic responses that left him with more questions. Can we accept that being open to continuous dialogue with what is both intimate and mysterious is the nourishment what we actually hunger for in life? If we strive to live a life that is purposeful and also contemplative, can we then believe that this also gives us peace and joy amidst the uncertainty along the way?

 

It is this communion with the living God
which is at the heart of your life
as a child of God,
disciple of Jesus,
witness of God’s spirit,
quickened member of God’s Body,
and brother or sister to the world. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, help us to not be afraid of You in all Your mystery. The unknown can be so frightening. Uncertainty makes us uneasy, for if we accept this mystery then we relinquish some semblance of control in our lives. Thank you for helping us with the belief that this kind of surrender is not the end of our lives but the beginning of something new and abundant. May we share the wonder and awe we feel from the embrace of Your Spirit with those we meet in our daily encounters.

Amen