Renewed by the Holy Spirit (HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER APRIL 2023

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER (APRIL 17, 2023)

Acts 4:23-31; Ps.2; John 3:1-8

Renewed by the Holy Spirit

Whatever performs work would often time be in need of renewal. For machines, this renewal is in form of servicing. For man, in relation to the body, renewal takes the form of rest, changing environment, going on vacation and so on. The readings of today bring to our consciousness the fact that man must also pay attention to his spiritual renewal. While the gospel reading tells us how we can attain spiritual renewal, the first reading enlightens us on what spiritual renewal can do for us.

In the gospel reading, Jesus revealed to Nichodemus that unless one is born anew (renewed), he cannot enter the kingdom of God. While Nichodemus thought that this involved entering ones mother’s womb a second time, Jesus clarified that spiritual renewal comes through encounter with the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that renews us spiritually. When the Spirit renews us, we become more spiritually conscious.

In the first reading, we see how the Holy Spirit renewed the Christian community. Peter and John had just been warned and threatened not to ever speak in the name of the Jesus Christ again. Even though Peter had boldly addressed the people in the temple, the threat of the Chief Priests and the elders cast some fears in their hearts and in the hearts of the believers when Peter and John told them of their experience. This does not mean that they were of little faith but that they were humans.

Beloved, at some point in our sojourn here on earth, our human nature may interfere with our struggle towards holiness. It is at such moment that we the need the renewal of the Spirit of God. After listening to Peter and John, the community of believers gathered to invoke the Holy Spirit. They were reporting the situation and their fear to God in prayers.

Whenever we make ourselves available for the Lord to use, He never allows us to work alone. So, while the believers prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon them all; they experienced a spiritual renewal. Their fears disappeared and they were bold again to speak the Word of God.

Beloved, your fear may be sin(s), laziness to pray, lack of trust in God, and so on. Whatever form your fear may manifest, the solution remains the renewal of the Holy Spirit. The psalmist enjoins us to trust God because no situation is beyond the renewal of His Spirit.

OR

Homily for Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter

Acts 4:23-31. Psalm 2:1-3,4-6,7-9. John 3:1-8.

"Blessd are all who trust in you, O Lord" is our Responsorial Psalm today. We see this reflected in the life of the Apostles in the first reading.

With the release of Peter and John by the chief priests and the elders, they went to their friends and reported all that happened between them and the Jewish authorities. They lifted up their voices together to God in prayer and the result of their prayers, as recorded in the first reading, "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

This is the effect of prayers of those who have faith in God and supported their faith with good deeds. Despite the threat to their lives, they put their trust in God and carried on with their mission of proclaiming the Gospel.

In today's Gospel, Nicodemus, a Pharisee came to Jesus in the night to ask him what it will take to enter God's kingdom. Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Jesus explained further what it means to be born anew. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

To be born of water and the Spirit is simply to be baptised. That is why we see in the Acts of the Apostles when people get converted to Christianity. The first thing done is for the converts to be baptised.

Every Christian reborn in the waters of baptism is constrained by his/her faith to live according to the dictates of the Spirit who dwells in his/her body and soul. The life of a Christian is a constant choice informed by the power of the Spirit, who is the principle of renewal  we have all received.

Therefore, the words of Christ Jesus to Nicodemus point to both a choice and a life that a Christian lives once a profession of faith is made.

May God grant us the grace to be faithful to our baptismal promises so as to make his kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen