april 24 2006

Jn 3:1-8 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him,“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doingunless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him,“Amen, amen, I say to you,unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”Nicodemus said to him,“How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered,“Amen, amen, I say to you,unless one is born of water and Spirit they 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.” The Spirit of God is like the wind that gives breath and life to the being. Words and feelings and images of self can be illusions. Acts of charity, compassion, mercy and kindness come from the Spirit that is within. Without the Spirit all is empty and only a shell and without the promise of the kingdom of God.